GI consultation navigators

IBS in primary care

Establish the bowel pattern, check safety and results, then choose what to try from the patient's priority and previous response.

• Separate unknown, pending and abnormal tests.
• Target persistent watery diarrhoea and other mimics.
• Review trial adequacy, benefit and intolerance.
• Select the agreed treatment and prepare GP notes or patient advice.

Dyspepsia and H. pylori

Review urgency, define the symptom pattern and keep the infection result separate from the response to symptom treatment.

• Check active-infection test timing and medicine washout.
• Review previous antibiotics, allergy and failed regimens.
• Plan confirmation of eradication, including the date helper.
• Use the treatment reference, GP summary and patient-advice output.

FIB-4 and MASLD

Use the Northern/Auckland age bands, check when the result may be unreliable and turn the score into a practical plan.

• Consider gastroenterology and FibroScan assessment.
• Personalise repeat testing to metabolic risk.
• Calculate weight-loss goals in kilograms.
• Copy, download or print GP notes.

Constipation

Stool frequency is only part of the assessment. Review hard stools, straining, incomplete emptying, medicines and possible overflow. Persistent difficulty evacuating may need anorectal testing and coordination training rather than another laxative alone.

The IBS navigator can support an IBS-C consultation when recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort accompanies bowel change. It should not label isolated constipation as IBS.