INSIDE OUT
The Stoma Care Dept of St Marks & Northwick Park Hospital founded the group Inside Out, in November 1999, which is run by the patients for the benefit of all stoma patients and their families, as well as those considering surgery.
Our aims are, broadly, as follows: to be a self help group providing friendship and support for all stoma patients and / or their families, to keep members up to date through the newsletters and meetings throughout the year. On issues affecting stoma patients: to collect information about living with a stoma and to increase the public awareness of what a stoma is about.
We work with the Stoma Care Dept, Macmillan Nurses, Out-Patients Dept and the leading Consultants of St Marks Hospital. We form part of the first line of support, information and comfort from when the patient and their families first hears from the their consultant that they have to have a stoma. We then place a similar type of stoma, gender, and where possible similar type of problem as a befriender to help them through the trauma before, during and after the operation.
One thing we do not want to lose track of is the fact that "living with a stoma" applies to not just the stoma patient but also their families and friends. With this in mind, our meetings are open to all patients, family and friends.
We run coffee mornings in the out-patient department on the 3rd floor of St Marks Hospital every fortnight on alternative days, Monday to Thursday, 10am to mid-day, to cover all our consultants surgeries.
We can be contacted in many ways:
Stoma Care Dept
Macmillan Nurses
Tel: 020 8428 4242
Mobile: 07721 767 943
E-mail: insiedout.bag256@btinternet.com
Please visit the newly opened website: www.iossg.org.uk