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Support for Merseyside and
West Lancashire Stoma patients
NURSES in Southport want to raise
awareness of a common, yet rarely talked about condition that affects thousands
of people across the country.
Around 80,000 people in the UK have Stomas of various types, following surgical
procedures. More than 500 people in North Sefton wear a Stoma Pouch. These
specialist Nurses offer practical and psychological support to these patients.
Nurses Samantha Miller and Vanessa Stevenson
are based at Southport’s Stoma Clinic in Poulton Road. Fellow Stoma Nurse Sharon
Dearnly Davidson cares for patients in West Lancashire. Sam said:- “We
offer support, reassurance and practical information to anyone who may be about
to have a stoma. People of all ages and backgrounds may have to use a Stoma at
some point in their lives. Predominantly most of our patients are people in
their 50's and 60's who have had bowel cancer, but we also care for teenagers
and younger adults too. We provide care to those who are new to living with a
Stoma and also continual support to those who will live with a Stoma for the
rest of their lives."
A recent annual open day for Stoma patients took place in Southport where latest
products and expert advice was available. During the event patients gave
excellent feedback about the care they receive.
For example:-
► Peter Wood, 78, from Ainsdale, has been
using a Stoma for the last three years. He said:- "The care I have
received has been brilliant and I thank Sam and the NHS for helping me."
► Lorraine McGlashon, 58, from Hightown, has been using a Stoma since January:-
"The Stoma has given me a new lease of life. I go swimming every day. The
Stoma Nurses have been wonderful to me and are always there to offer support.
It’s important to be in charge of your Stoma rather than let the Stoma be in
charge of you."
Stoma Nurses offer as much psychological support as practical support.
Sam added:- "We have a wide range of patients from babies to older people
who may have inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer. We work with patients
to give them confidence to do the day to day things that most people take for
granted. Our aim is to support patients to live full independent lives. The
initial weeks of having a Stoma are often the hardest but with ongoing support
most people learn to adapt their lifestyle."
More information about Stoma Care in the UK
can be found on the Colostomy Association's
website.
Did you know that the 1st surgical Stomas were created in the early 18th
Century? Thankfully Stoma Products have evolved and improved greatly over the
years.
The word Stoma comes from the Greek word for 'mouth' as its forms
the exit from the bowel. But what is a
Storma? It's an artificial opening on the
abdomen created to divert the body’s waste into a disposable pouch that could be
1 of 2 types. The 1st is called a
Colostomy. That procedure is used to divert
the large intestine (colon) to an opening that is normally located on the
surface of the abdomen (tummy). It can be permanent or temporary depending on
what medical and surgical treatments have been undertaken. A colostomy may be
used for a wide range of issues arising from a knife or gunshot wounds, though
to cancer and Hirschsprung's disease. A Stoma made from your small bowel is
called a
Ileostomy. This procedure might be used as
well if you require complex surgery on the anus or rectum. It allows most
recipients to live a normal life with the use of updated provisions.
More information and support can be obtained from UK charity
MacMillan. |
