Patients in South Yorkshire who have a stoma, or who have recently had a stoma fitted and removed are being asked for their views on the service they received.  

What is a stoma? 

A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that is connected to either the digestive or urinary system to allow waste (urine or faeces) to be diverted out of the body. Common reasons for having a stoma include bowel cancer, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis), diverticulitis or an obstruction to the bladder or bowel. A stoma can be temporary or permanent depending on the cause.

Who is carrying out this work and why? 

The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System (SYB ICS), which is a partnership of NHS organisations in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Rotherham, who work together as a system to improve the health and wellbeing of the population, are looking at the services people with stoma receive across the region and want to hear about the experiences of patients to help shape any potential future changes to the service.

Stuart Lakin, Pharmacist and the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw lead for this work said: “By working together we have identified that currently across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw stoma services are provided in many ways and this has led us to question whether one area is delivering a better service for their patients than another. We are committed to delivering an excellent service for all patients no matter where they live in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and therefore we want to better understand the experiences our patients have had. It is very important for us to hear your views, so we can make sure that services do what you want them to do.”

How can people feedback about their experiences of accessing stoma services locally? 

Stoma patients from across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw can complete the survey online here

The survey is confidential and patients will not be identifiable.  It will not impact on the service they currently receive.

We are currently also working with local GP Practices in order to contact patients directly in addition to promoting this survey online.