“No matter how small your idea may seem, if it helps just one person it’s worth proposing.”
Rachel Campbell, winner of the Richard Driscoll Award at the Tillotts IBD STARS Event 2024
As one of the more senior nurses to win the prestigious Richard Driscoll Award at the Tillotts annual IBD STARS Event 2024, Rachel Campbell is keen to highlight the significant input of her colleague, Callula Nulty.
Both are Advanced Clinical Practitioners at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport where Rachel leads the IBD nursing team and Callula the colorectal one. Their collaborative ‘Streamlining IBD Diagnosis’ project has delivered impressive benefits for patients as well as considerable cost savings. But Rachel traces their success back to having the confidence to propose the idea to Trust managers in the first place.
A journey of confidence-building
Rachel explains that self-belief did not always come naturally to her. Feeling that she had not inherited the academic mindsets of her parents, she left school with only two GCSEs and started working as a nursery nurse.
In 1995, Rachel became what was then called an ‘auxiliary nurse’ on a gastroenterology ward. It was here that her enthusiasm for learning was sparked and her career took off.
She completed nurse training and rose to ward manager. Recognising her talents, a consultant gastroenterologist helped her establish an IBD service and develop a clinical nurse specialist role. From here, she achieved an BSc in gastroenterology, qualified as a prescriber and then gained an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice.
Her resulting successes encouraged her to take the plunge and start suggesting ideas for service improvements. Having her ideas approved and implemented helped to build her confidence to continue on this path.
Streamlining IBD Diagnosis
In 2023, Rachel and Callula identified a possible solution to the perennial problem of long waiting times for IBD patients after a positive FIT test (Faecal Immunochemical Test). Patients who had cancer ruled out by Callula’s colorectal team, but were diagnosed with IBD, were being referred to gastroenterology on the general referral pathway. This resulted in patients waiting up to 38 weeks to be seen by a consultant.
Working closely together, Rachel and Callula devised their award-winning idea –‘Streamlining IBD Diagnosis: Reducing Patient Waiting Times through Collaborative Pathways’.
Following a successful business case and 6-month trial, Callula now refers patients with IBD to Rachel’s specially created ‘Hotslot Clinic’ where they receive both IBD treatment and emotional support within 8 weeks. This results in faster symptom control and greater patient satisfaction as well as considerable cost savings for the NHS.
Evidencing the positive 6-month trial results
The value of the Tillotts LOGIC programme
Rachel was already established in her career when the Tillotts LOGIC programme was launched. She is keen for everyone in her team to have access to it, expressing huge gratitude for the difference Tillotts LOGIC makes to supporting education for IBD nurses.
Why enter the Richard Driscoll Award?
Despite having won the award in 2016 for her ‘Rapid Access with GPs’ submission, the ‘Streamlining IBD Diagnosis’ initiative made such a difference to her patients that Rachel felt compelled to share the idea with other IBD nurses via the award scheme. “Even if you don’t win, your idea gains wider exposure as an example of best practice that other Trusts might replicate. I’ve already been approached by nurses from other Trusts wanting to learn more about the initiative.”
Rachel also explains that she did not enter the award for herself. “The award opens doors. I wanted to celebrate Callula’s input and, hopefully, by putting her in the spotlight, inspire courage in younger nurses to propose improvements where they identify an unmet need.”
Some final words from Rachel
On the last point, Rachel cannot emphasise enough to early-career nurses the importance of having the confidence to speak up where they see practice and process might be improved.
“Proposing new ideas, no matter how small they may seem, shouldn’t be seen as scary – the doctors are keen to improve processes and pathways.”
Organised and funded by Tillotts Pharma UK & Ireland, intended for UK & Ireland healthcare professionals. Some of this educational content may contain reference to Tillotts products. PU-03123 | April 2026
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information in the UK can be found at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk. Reporting forms and information for Ireland can be found at www.hpra.ie/report-an-issue/medicines-for-human-use/side-effects. Adverse events should also be reported to Tillotts Pharma UK and Ireland. For UK: 01522813500 or uksafety@tillotts.com For Ireland: +353 1 2942015 or pvireland@tillotts.com.
