Colorectal and Stoma Nursing Service

Colorectal and Stoma Nursing Service

Patient Information

Surgery Division

• Author ID:      DB
• Leaflet Ref:    Surg 064
• Leaflet title:    Colorectal and Stoma Nursing Service
• Version:         9
• Last review:    July 2024
• Expiry Date:   July 2026

Introduction

What is the Colorectal and Stoma Care Service?

The Colorectal and Stoma Care Nursing service prepares you and your relatives to adjust to life, both physically and psychologically, with colorectal disease. We provide support following surgery which may or may not have resulted in stoma formation.

The service is here to provide you and your families with information, advice and support from the moment you are told you have a bowel disease.  We are here to help throughout treatment, before and after surgery and in the community.

The nurse led service works with your doctors and provides you and your family with a point of contact if you have any questions or concerns.

For what conditions is support offered?

Support and advice is offered to people who suffer from:

• Colorectal cancer
• Diverticular disease
• Ulcerative colitis where surgery is indicated
• Crohn’s disease where surgery is indicated
• Ileostomy
• Colostomy
• Urostomy

How do I get access to the service?

The Colorectal and Stoma Care Nursing Service is available to all patients in the Wigan and Leigh area.

You may refer yourself to the service: we also receive referrals from relatives, nurses, GPs, consultants or any other health professional. 

Referrals can be made by letter or telephone.

Where can you see us?

• In the Outpatient Department
• Whilst in hospital before and after surgery

What do we offer?

• Advice, information and support for you, your relatives and carers.
• Information and advice to promote bowel and stoma care awareness and advice on stoma care products.

We will:

• See you before your operation unless surgery is carried out as an emergency.
• See you before your operation and before you go home.
• Give you an appointment within a week of discharge from hospital.
• Give you information regarding your follow-up care.
• Give you contact telephone numbers for the Colorectal/Stoma Care Department
• Give you written information to support any verbal information you have been given and relay information following discussion of your treatment plan at our multi- disciplinary meeting.
• Offer you impartial advice relating to current medical trials.
• Offer you impartial advice relating to appliance choice.
• Provide symptom relief advice.

How can we be contacted?

We are based at:

Stoma Care Department (above Highfield Ward)

Royal Albert Edward Infirmary

Wigan Lane, WN1 2NN

Telephone Stoma Team 01942 822034 or Colorectal Team 01942 822884

Contact times

Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm

(Answer phone available 24 hours)

If you have a problem outside of these hours please contact:

• The Ward on which you were a patient
• District Nurse
• GP

We hold stoma clinics during the week please ring for an appointment.