The service the whole of East Kent and includes caring for patients in our three acute hospitals, in patients homes and providing stoma clinics at our other hospital sites and in GP practices.
The aim of our service is to introduce ourselves to patients prior to surgery and to provide support, education and adequate pre-operative preparation together with continuity of care throughout your stay in hospital.
This service is for all ostomates of any age and and their carers. This includes...colostomists, ileostomists, urostomists as the main stoma types but also fistula management and internal ileo-anal pouch patients.
As a stoma nurse team we want to work very closely with you. A group of ostomates have previously given us extensive feedback and have had a huge input into what our service looks like today.
Take a look at the Ostomate Agenda devised and owned by our stoma patient population.
Living with a Stoma
Obtaining your stoma supplies
Before you leave hospital, your stoma nurse will ensure you have 2-3 weeks' worth of stoma supplies to go home with. The stoma nurse will tell you how to re-order supplies via your GP surgery, as you will need a prescription from your GP each time.
Please allow 10-14 days for the prescription to be processed, so you'll need to ensure you have sufficient stocks to last you during this time.
Fittleworth
Salts Medilink
General information
There's lots of information available for individuals living with a stoma covering all lifestyle aspects. Click on the following links for useful resources and information:
Dansac
Fittleworth
Salts Medilink
Tele Home Care
Colostomy Association
Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group
For Ileo-anal pouch individuals, consider visiting the St Mark's Hospital Support Group:
Red Lion Support Group
Urostomy Association
Mitrofanoff Support
Bladder and Bowel Foundatio
Colostomy Irrigation
For information on colostomy irrigation please visit:
Colostomy Association
Cancer Diagnosis Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
Cancer Care Club
Carers' Support
Carers' Support Canterbury, Thanet, Dover
Children with Stomas
Junior Ostomy Support Helpline (JOSH) is available for parents or carers of children with a bowel or bladder issue. Their specially selected team of dedicated parent volunteers provide much needed emotional support when it is needed.
24 hour helpline 0800 328 4257
JOSH is part of the Colostomy Association:
Colostomy Association
Support is available in the form of breaks for families with children with stomas:
Break Away
For further support you can visit:
Bladder and Bowel Foundation
Returning and recycling ostomy products
You may return clean, unused stoma supplies to your local stoma nurse who will arrange for them to be distributed to third world countries. Please ring the stoma department to arrange: 01233 616 646.
For details about our clinics, staff, support groups and events - please click on the tabs below.
