Prevalence of peristomal skin complications in the UK - why is this still happening?

Jennie Burch, Head of Gastrointestinal Nurse Education, St Mark's Hospital

Living with a stoma can be problematic in many ways, but quality of life can be greatly compromised if there are peristomal skin issues that result in the leakage of a stoma appliance. With improvement in stoma products it could be assumed that skin issues would no longer occur but this is not the case. Skin issues are one of the most common problems reported to the specialist stoma care nurse. The many risk factors for skin complications offer an insight into why problems continue and why nurses need to be proactive, vigilant and address problems when they occur. This session will aim to explore the extent of skin complications within the UK so that nurses are in a better position to address and resolve them.