Caring for patients with stomas in primary care

General practice nurses may encounter patients who are living with a stoma when undertaking primary care nursing activities, such as vaccinations or general health consultations. Living with a stoma requires a degree of lifestyle modifications, such as those relating to dietary intake, as well as stoma appliance care. It is important that practice nurses understand the common issues that people living with a stoma may report when accessing primary care, such as peristomal skin damage. Practice nurses are not expected to manage all stoma-related issues, but it is important to recognise when patients need a referral to a stoma care specialist, and be able to signpost them to other useful resources, such charity services.