Stoma Care Nurse Service

We have a team of Stoma Care Nurse Specialists within the Colorectal department providing specialist care to patients pre operatively, through their in patient stay and then follow up within clinics or the community as required.  We see patients with a variety of conditions and illnesses that may necessitate stoma forming surgery. 

The Stoma Care Nurses meet elective patients who are possibly going to have a stoma at the pre-operative stoma information clinic. At this appointment explaining stoma care in more detail, provide emotional support, written information and answer questions as well as siting the stoma. 

During a patient’s hospital stay, those with newly formed stomas are seen by the Stoma Care Nurses for assessment of their stoma and teaching of stoma pouch management. Doing this we are able to identify any possible stoma and peristomal skin complications and take appropriate action.

Before being discharged home patients are required to be independent with managing their stoma bag or have appropriate arrangements made for that care to be provided for them. The Stoma Care Nurses work within the wider multi-disciplinary team involving ward nurses, surgical teams, other doctors, dietitians and discharge coordinators.

The Stoma Care Nurses will arrange appropriate follow up appointments following discharge from hospital. Patients with a new stoma routinely have 3 follow up appointments, one within 2 weeks of being home, the time scales of subsequent appointments depends on how patients are coping with their stoma.

The Stoma Care Team are also involved with managing patients that have existing stomas who are admitted to hospital. We can provide advice and support regarding stoma function (including high output or non functioning stomas), stoma pouch management, stoma or peristomal skin complications or when patients may be requiring further surgery. 

Whilst a patient has a stoma they always have open access to contact the Stoma Care Nurses for advice and support and they will arrange to see patients face to face if required.