Living with a stoma

Above: Sue Garlick and Michele Hill from the Trust’s Stoma Care Team

An event at Macclesfield Masonic Hall offered patients in their first year of living with a stoma to exchange their stories..

A stoma, also known as Ostomates, is a surgically created opening on abdomen which diverts faeces or urine into a bag, carried on the body. 

The event, organised by staff from East Cheshire NHS Trust, included testimonials from former and current stoma patients, who shared their experiences.

Staff from the Trust also provided a segment on sometimes overlooked topics, including dining out and intimacy.

Stoma Nurse Specialist for East Cheshire NHS Trust Sue Garlick said: “It’s a real privilege to not only support patients during their hospital stay but to also support them preadmission and for the lifetime of their stoma.

“The event provided a powerful reminder of the positive impact that patient-centred care can have on improving quality of life for stoma patients.”

Over 200,000 people in the UK are living with a stoma. 

The Trust’s Stoma Care service provides counselling advice and support, before, during, and after surgery to our patients and their families. 

For more information on the Stoma Care team at the Trust, please click here.