The sad news of a young man in the UK requesting his right to die rather than have a stoma has spurred me on to continue my quest to ask the government to put into place within the NHS, a stoma specific counsellor role.
Rather than wait a very long time doing a petition to have it declined because there may not be enough signatures, I have written to Matt Hancock ( Secretary of state for health and social care ) in the hope that he will act upon my request. All those who are awaiting stoma surgery have a degree of fear of the unknown and have no real idea of what to expect. To be able to speak to someone who has that knowledge either by having a stoma themselves, or be a trained stoma counsellor, would have a big impact on the mental wellbeing of future stoma patients. To be able to ask those questions that are running around in your head and get the right answers would be so positive.
It’s the fear that can delay surgery so that fear needs to be calmed and the only way that can be done with someone who can answer those fears. I have had counselling but found it mediocre at best because the counsellor just couldn’t understand fully and therefore couldn’t possibly help with my concerns.
I was lucky though, I had the total support of my family, friends, and stoma nurse and I didn’t have time to think about having a stoma due to the speed of surgery ( not really sure if that is positive or negative) but what I do know is that depression is an affect of chronic ill health and that can alter your fear and vision of what life with a stoma is like, that is why a stoma specific counsellor is so needed before an after surgery.
This is a copy of the letter on the way to Matt Hancock, I just hope he reads it.
Dear Matt Hancock
As you may have read in the news very recently, a young man from Barnsley has asked for his right to die rather than have a stoma formed to save his life. That someone can believe death to be a better option than life with a stoma is surely indicative of the life-altering nature of the surgery, both physically and mentally. I am one of thousands of British people with a stoma and I can understand the fear and uncertainty this can cause.
This is why I, and many others believe that a stoma specific counsellor would be the most help to patients pre and post surgery.
I had generic counselling myself and although it was good to talk to someone, I believe I would have experienced far greater benefits with a stoma-specific expert counsellor. It is often left to the individual themselves to seek out this kind of help either online or through stoma charities.
Many people are unable to find help and support within their immediate circle, as few people are aware of the conditions that lead to having a stoma, and it can be difficult to talk about.
They may not realise that their chronic illness is causing underlying depression, which in turn leads to them to fear for their quality of life in the future. This suffering, which often occurs in silence, could be vastly reduced by the implementation of stoma-specific pre and post surgery counselling.
Rather than go through a slow process of a petition to ask you to review my request for a stoma specific counsellor, I believe it is critical to contact you directly as time is of the essence. The news of the young man being so widespread in the stoma community could potentially put people off the surgery who are in desperate need of it.
Would you please reply with any other information you may need to make this important role within the NHS happen.
Kind regards
Clare Mee
