UHNM nurse helps shape national guidance on inflammatory bowel disease care

A specialist nurse from University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has helped share the latest guidance on caring for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after co-authoring a chapter in a national nursing journal.
 
Stephanie Massey, lead inflammatory bowel disease clinical nurse specialist, contributed the latest edition of the Gastrointestinal Nursing Journal (Wiley), focusing on the latest evidence on diagnosing, treating and managing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
 
The publication aims to support nurses and other healthcare professionals caring for people with IBD, helping ensure patients benefit from the latest knowledge on treatments, medicines and specialist care.
 
Stephanie said: "IBD treatment has changed significantly over recent years, with new medicines and approaches helping more people live well with their condition.
 
"We wanted to produce a practical, up-to-date overview that brings together the latest evidence and gives healthcare professionals confidence in caring for people with IBD.
 
“It’s good news for patients because the more informed healthcare teams are, the better support and treatment they can provide.
 
Stephanie, who joined the IBD team in 2014, developed the chapter after completing her Master’s degree and exploring opportunities to get more involved in research and education in inflammatory bowel disease. She leads a specialist nursing team supporting hundreds of patients with IBD across the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, providing specialist clinics, treatment, advice and dedicated helplines for both patients and GPs. The team helps people manage their condition and aims to reduce the need for emergency hospital admissions wherever possible.
 
Stephanie added: "I'm incredibly proud to have contributed to a publication that I hope will benefit both healthcare professionals and patients."