Advice for non-specialists on supporting patients with colostomy and other stomas, and addressing concerns about quality of life

A stoma, also known as an ostomy, is an opening on the surface of the abdomen that has been surgically created to divert the flow of faeces or urine. Part of the intestine will be brought out of the opening and stitched into place. It is estimated that more than 200,000 people in the UK are living with a stoma, according to Colostomy UK. This can be for a range of reasons, including cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease or following trauma to the abdomen.