Carol Katte
Liaison with Stoma Care Nursing
Carol been a Stoma Care Specialist Nurse for almost thirty years. After specialising in surgical nursing, both in the UK and South Africa, Carol was then a district nursing sister, and community liaison sister. From this last post she was ‘led’ into the stoma care world setting up a stoma care nursing service where she worked because there wasn’t one! As you can imagine, there have been many changes and developments over those years: improvements in surgery, innovations in appliances and products, more stoma care specialist nurses, support from charities, the involvement of manufacturers and delivery companies.
Carol became aware of the tremendous organisation of IA early in my stoma journey, and often used its patients’ and professionals’ information leaflets, DVDs (videos originally) and the visiting scheme. Becoming involved with Surrey IA first (invited by Carolyn Stammers to replace her as she moved on) Carol later stepped in to her shoes as stoma nurse liaison when she retired, together with co-liaison nurse, Alison.
The nurse liaison role is to liaise with and support the organisations representing Stoma Nursing: the Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCNUK), the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) Gastrointestinal Forum, the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET), Patients, Industry and Professionals (PIPs) Forum, the Scottish Stoma Forum (SSF) as well as the member organisations (MOs, the local groups of IA) and our members.
Alison and Carol answer queries received at national office or on social media. Whilst they cannot give specific medical or nursing advice, they can give general explanations and direct people to the right place for assistance. They also help with the website and the production of information leaflets for patients and professionals and describe the role as a very interesting and rewarding position.
Our Liaison Nurses are experienced Stoma Care Specialist Nurses, and are members of The Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN UK), the Association of Coloproctology Nurses (ACPN), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Gastroenterology Forum, and the World Council of Enterostomal Nurses (WCET).
They liaise with other appropriate organisations as required, such as the Scottish Stoma Nurse Group (SSSG) and the Patient, Industry and Professionals Forum (PIPs).