Stoma Passports rolled out to improve patient care | News

The Stoma Care team at the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust (pictured) have rolled out a new Stoma Passport that is given to patients when they are discharged from the service after having had stoma formation surgery.

The credit card sized passports, which were rolled out in April, can be carried easily in a pocket and contain a summary of useful information for the patient.

This includes information about their surgery and details about their type of stoma. If they are ever re-admitted, or cared for in a different hospital or community setting, these details are then easily accessible for the patient and clinicians.

Patient feedback given to the Stoma Care team about the Stoma Passports so far in the form of survey responses, has been overwhelmingly positive, with patients saying they now feel more ‘informed’ and ‘involved’ with their care. 

Jenny Clarke, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Stoma Care, said: “The use of the Stoma Passports is improving patient care by aiding in communication and understanding of patients’ individual needs. 

“It is also better for staff as all the relevant information is easily to hand wherever the patient’s care is being delivered, for example be that in the hospital or out in the community.”

A recent Stoma Passport survey carried out by the service shows that patients think the passport is less likely to be stored away and forgotten about. They also praised the clear and accessible layout of the Stoma Passport. 100 percent of respondents said they felt the passport would improve their experience of care.

The Trust has been invited to present about the Stoma Passport at the Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN UK) conference in September.