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Stoma counselling service
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With our counselling service, help is just a phone call away
Wherever you are on your post-surgery journey, it’s OK not to be OK. Our service has been designed to support people living with a stoma adapt to some of the challenges they may be facing.
You might be struggling to adjust, have lower self-esteem, or feel anxious or depressed. If left untreated, these feelings can get worse over time. Simply talking to someone who knows exactly what you’re going through can be such help. Which is why, as an Amcare by Convatec customer, you can access our free, specialist stoma counselling service:
- Most people finish their work with their counsellor after four sessions, though it may be
possible to extend this if it is deemed necessary by your counsellor. - No long waiting lists; since our sessions are only open to Amcare customers, your counselling can start almost immediately after we’ve confirmed that you are eligible and that we’ve received your consent and questionnaire.
- Our service is completely free and our counsellors are passionate to help as many people as possible.
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A compassionate ear and a helping hand
The service is available to Amcare customers aged 18 or over who have a stoma, as well as partners of people with a stoma and parents of children with a stoma. Please note, we can’t offer counselling to anyone receiving related support from another counsellor, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.*
Sylvia's story
One person who found our service particularly helpful and was happy to share her story is Sylvia. After having colostomy surgery, Sylvia found it difficult to come to terms with her stoma and reached out to an Amcare counsellor, who helped rebuild her self-confidence and love life again.
“Without support, I would not be the person I am now. With the help of my counsellor, I have accepted my stoma is part of me now. I found the counsellor kind and patient; I cannot thank her enough.”
No long waiting lists
We make our free stoma counselling as accessible as possible to take the strain off you and the NHS. Mental health provision throughout the UK is overstretched, which means that getting an appointment through your GP can take anywhere between 6-9 months on average. Since our sessions are only open to Amcare customers, your counselling can start almost immediately after we’ve received your consent and pre-evaluation.
By phone from the comfort of your home
We want you to feel as relaxed as possible, which is why our stoma counselling sessions are held one-to-one, over the phone. Every session is held in the strictest of confidence and your counsellor will respect your privacy at all times.
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Arranging your free counselling is easy
To find out if you are eligible to access the service and to register your interest, you can contact us via:
- A call to our clinical triage line: 0800 085 2516
- A call to our Amcare customer care team: 0800 88 50 50
- A direct referral from your NHS hospital nurse
Once you request access to the stoma counselling service, one of our nurses will call you to complete an initial phone triage. During this call, we’ll assess your eligibility for the service*, and if you’re eligible, we’ll begin the process and get everything set up for you. You will be asked to complete and return a consent form and questionnaire.
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