Hydration Guide - Flipbook - Page 15
EXTRA GUIDANCE + SUPPORT
When further support is required
Emergency Help
If someone with a stoma experiences any of the following, we recommend you
call the NHS helpline on 111 or take them to your local Accident and Emergency
department as soon as possible.
Emergency symptoms:
• Significant decrease in amount of urine and darker colour
• Cramping, pain or swelling at the stoma site
• Nausea and vomiting
• A weak or rapid pulse
• Fits (seizures)
• Being very drowsy/unrousable
Seeing a Registered Dietitian (RD)
RDs train for years to learn medical
nutritional therapy, which is the science
of tailoring nutrition for specific health
concerns including stoma care. GPs and
Specialist Stoma Nurses (SSNs) undergo
some nutrition training and can offer
“first-line” or immediate advice and
support. If you have multiple dietary
difficulties, including unintentional
weight-loss, distressing ongoing stoma
symptoms or other health conditions
then it’s best to see an RD.
Non-NHS
Some NHS referral processes for
Dietitians can take weeks or months, you
may want to seek a non-NHS RD.
The British Dietetic Association has an
online register you can use to find the
contact details of RDs near you; prices
and services vary so don’t be afraid to
ask questions:
The Freelance Register of UK-based
Registered Dietitians
https://freelancedietitians.org/
NHS
Many hospitals have Dietitian outpatient
clinics, some areas of the country have
community Dietitian clinics at places
including GP surgeries. NHS Dietitian
teams usually accept referrals from:
• your GP
• your hospital Doctor
• hospital-based SSNs
Your healthcare professional may not
automatically refer you to an RD and you
may have to ask them to.
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