Close It Quick - Ileostomy Closure QI Collaborative
An ileostomy is a surgical procedure in which the end of the small bowel is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall to divert waste while the bowel heals following colorectal cancer surgery. In most cases, an ileostomy is intended to be temporary and, where clinically appropriate, should be closed within a few months of the original operation.
In practice, however, many patients live with a temporary ileostomy for far longer than expected. Delays in closure can affect quality of life and are associated with a higher risk of complications, extended periods living with a stoma, and uncertainty for patients and families.
Data from the National Bowel Cancer Audit Report show substantial variation in ileostomy closure rates across England and Wales, with many patients experiencing prolonged delays or non-closure. This unwarranted variation highlights an important opportunity to improve surgical pathways, coordination of care, and patient experience.
Close It Quick
Close It Quick is a national quality improvement (QI) collaborative led by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It works with colorectal surgical teams to identify and address the clinical, operational, and organisational factors that contribute to delayed ileostomy closure.
The collaborative supports teams to:
- review and improve local pathways from ileostomy formation through to closure,
- use data to understand variation and target improvement, and
- test and embed practical changes that support timely, safe closure.
Welsh participation
Colorectal multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) from all Welsh Health Boards with colorectal cancer surgical services are participating in Close It Quick, supported by funding from Moondance Cancer Initiative.
Through the collaborative, teams will receive:
- Support from clinical and quality improvement experts through coaching sessions, email support, and structured check-ins.
- Access to data dashboards providing local and national insight to support benchmarking and evidence-informed change.
- Practical resources to support pathway redesign and implementation.
- Opportunities for peer learning and collaboration with participating sites across England and Wales.
- Access to webinars and national collaborative events.
By supporting Welsh teams to participate in this work, we aim to help accelerate improvement in ileostomy closure pathways and improve outcomes and experience for patients across Wales.
What this means for patients
Improving the timeliness and consistency of ileostomy closure has the potential to:
- reduce the length of time patients live with a temporary stoma,
- improve quality of life and recovery following colorectal cancer treatment, and
- ensure more equitable care regardless of where patients are treated.
Further information
Close It Quick launched in late 2025, with an initial set-up phase followed by active improvement and evaluation through to 2027. We will share updates and learning from the Welsh sites as the collaborative progresses.
Further information about Close It Quick is available from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
As a funding organisation, Moondance Cancer Initiative does not have access to individual patient cases and cannot advise on clinical care or referrals.