Vulnerable patients fear implications of stoma nurse shortage

Vulnerable patients in regional South Australia are expressing deep concern over a critical shortage of stoma nurses in Mount Gambier. David Platt, who has lived with a urostomy bag since 2004 after his prostate cancer spread, relies on specialist nurses for support. He recalled the initial difficulty adjusting to his stoma bag but credits a stoma nurse at Mount Gambier hospital with helping him master its care.

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I think I went up there for about four changes and in the end she said, 'Look, you've mastered it, you can actually do it yourself now,'

"I think I went up there for about four changes and in the end she said, 'Look, you've mastered it, you can actually do it yourself now,'" Platt said, emphasizing the importance of accessible guidance. He now helps others in the region's stoma support group, but this vital support system is under threat. Mount Gambier, the largest city in South Australia outside Adelaide, has seen its stoma nursing service reduced from two full-time staff to a single nurse available only one day per week.

This drastic reduction has significant consequences for the over 200 people in the South East region who live with a stoma. While everyday bag changes are typically managed at home, more serious issues require specialist intervention. "I know there's a couple of women have had to go to Adelaide because they can't get the help here," Platt stated, highlighting the hardship of traveling long distances, especially for elderly patients in their 80s.

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I know there's a couple of women have had to go to Adelaide because they can't get the help here

Emma Poland, chief executive of the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), acknowledged the recruitment challenges. "We acknowledge we face growing competition from intrastate, interstate and overseas for qualified professionals," she said. The LCLHN is actively recruiting for a specialist stoma nurse in Mount Gambier, as the previous two nurses left for other opportunities. In the interim, the hospital's Nursing Education Team is providing training in wound, stoma, and continence management to staff across the region to mitigate the impact of the shortage.

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We acknowledge we face growing competition from intrastate, interstate and overseas for qualified professionals