In May, we were delighted to be invited to join Invisible; a collaboration of charities from across Europe which are committed to improving the lives of people living with intimate health conditions.
Together, its members work to promote dignity, equity and inclusion, enabling people with invisible health conditions to participate fully in society.
Samantha Sherratt, our Transformation Director, joined Invisible at its meeting in Copenhagen on 26 May, the purpose of which was to spend time together as a community and exchange perspectives. As the event was hosted by Coloplast, participants were also given a unique insight into how the company approaches innovation, drawing on everyday life experiences shared by people living with intimate healthcare needs.
A shared mission
Invisible believes that health challenges should never mean exclusion. Too often, people are held back by unintended barriers created by gaps in knowledge and understanding. With the right support and solutions, they can stay in the workforce, care for their families and live full, rewarding lives. Invisible’s work is grounded in real experiences: members share insights, challenges and practical solutions to turn stigma into understanding and drive meaningful change.
Together the charities advocate for policies built on three priorities:
- First, quality of life must come before cost-focused criteria in coverage and procurement decisions, so that patients receive the right solutions from the start.
- Second, everyone should have access to products that fit their individual and medical needs, decided jointly with healthcare professionals through shared decision-making.
- Third, patient perspectives must be systematically included in healthcare decision-making at every level.
Raising awareness across Europe
An estimated 700,000 people in Europe live with a stoma, yet it remains a little-known condition. In spring 2025, Invisible launched a social media campaign across six EU countries, with nine posts on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook showing how people living with a stoma can lead productive, fulfilling lives. The results were presented in the European Parliament, coinciding with the launch of Invisible’s policy book.
Invisible has also welcomed the European Commission’s work to enhance its strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030, calling for greater EU recognition of stomas as an invisible condition, action on the economic and labour impact of invisible conditions – including improved working conditions and remote working options – and guaranteed equal access to the medical supplies stoma patients need for their physical and mental wellbeing.
We look forward to continuing our involvement with this inspiring community.
