Martin Reed speaks at NESS meeting

Our recent North East Essex Stoma Support (NESS) group meeting was very well attended. We were pleased to welcome Catherine Morgan the Director of Nursing who found the meeting extremely worthwhile. Martin Reed – one of our Peer support patients completed a presentation based around his summer travels, of cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Wild camping on Route. The presentation was interactive, and very inspirational. New and Established patients and relatives found the talk to be very ’motivational and humbling’. Martin included hints and tips of how to manage diet & fluids, practical aspects of emptying / changing the pouch all within a multitude of settings – and of course facing the elements! Martin raised nearly £3000 for The Ileostomy Association and Crohns and Colitis UK. Our raffle raised a further £37.00 which we have donated to CCUK.
Post-operatively patients and families have many questions in relation to living with a stoma and lifestyle issues. Peer support is invaluable, as often our established patients can offer answers to questions which we can’t.

If patients wish, we can put them in contact with Peer Support patients. The Peers are happy to provide advice of ‘Living with a Stoma’ , but are not medically trained and do not have formal Counselling Qualifications.

The NESS group meets 3-4 times each year – at various locations in Colchester / Clacton. We hold regular talks / Quiz’s and coffee afternoons.
For Further information contact the stoma team 01206 742009 or Brian Waller the NESS Chairman 01206 540449

The next meeting is on Saturday November 10th 2-4pm at St James Church Hall – Wash Lane – Clacton On Sea – C015 1DA.