Further developing the Association’s relationship with health professionals involved in the care of people living with a urinary diversion is key for our charity, so that GPs, nurses and others are not only aware of our existence but feel confident referring their patients to us for ongoing support.
In October, we were at the Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN) Annual Conference in Brighton alongside other patient support organisations, as well as stoma product suppliers and delivery companies, meeting stoma care nurses – familiar faces and plenty of new ones, too.
With more than 300 nurses in attendance, it was a very busy few days’ networking for UA representatives Brian Fretwell, our Chair of Trustees, and Sharon Fillingham, UA’s Nurse Advisor.
Between lectures and workshops, nurses visited our stand, gathering information about our services and contributing suggestions and ideas for ways we can work even more collaboratively with them for the benefit of patients.
There were rave reviews – including from ACSN President Andrew Bird (pictured with Brian Fretwell, UA’s Chair of Trustees) – for our unique book, ‘Bags, Bags, Bags’, which helps adults explain their urostomy to young children. While some nurses had already received copies, others were seeing it for the first time. Many also requested UA’s information leaflets and gave their contact details for us to add to our growing database.
Over the course of the event, Brian also took the opportunity of talking with company representatives, renewing contacts and making new ones. He said: “The annual ASCN conference is a highlight in UA’s calendar, giving us a fantastic opportunity to raise our profile with stoma care nurses, companies and fellow charities and to have conversations that help keep moving UA forward so that we continue to meet the needs of our community.”