Stoma, Transanal Irrigation and Catheter Care in Lincolnshire
What we set out to achieve
The aim of the survey was to understand lived experiences of stoma, transanal irrigation and catheter care services across Lincolnshire, including:
Access to reviews and specialist support
Ordering and supply of equipment
Dignity, respect and communication
Gaps in pathways and ongoing support needs
The survey also aimed to identify what was working well and where improvements could be made, using feedback from patients, carers, family members and professionals.
What we did
Between 3/12/2025 – 11/02/2026, NHS Lincolnshire ICB ran a countywide survey to gather feedback from people with lived experience of stoma, TAI and catheter care.
Who we heard from / numbers engaged:
• 176 total survey responses were received
• Respondents included:
o Patients – 69%122/176
o Carers – 11% (20/176)
o Family members – 13% (23/176)
o Health and care professionals – 1.7% (3/176)
• Responses were received from across all Lincolnshire districts, with the majority of responses coming from North Kesteven (38%, 65/176) with a broad age range represented.
The survey had three sections (respondents could select more than one):
Responses per section were as follows:
• Stoma care: 90 respondents
• Catheter care: 60 respondents
• Transanal irrigation (TAI): 9 respondents
The survey was promoted through:
• NHS Lincolnshire ICB communications and website
• GP practices and healthcare settings including hospital clinics
• Voluntary and community sector partners, including condition specific organisations
• Social media, newsletters and email distributions
• The survey was available online, with paper copies available on request to ensure accessibility.
What you told us
Respondents did not answer every question; the number of responses per question is clearly shown within the report.
Stoma care (90 respondents)
• Most respondents were satisfied with their stoma service, with 84% (57/68) reporting they were very satisfied (49%,33/68) or satisfied (35% 24/68)
• Most respondents said they were always treated with dignity and respect in relation to their stoma care (82%, 54/66), while 8% (5/66) said this was sometimes the case
• Around one quarter of respondents (24%, 20/82) said they had never had a stoma review since their surgery.
• The majority of respondents used a home delivery service (Direct Appliance Contractor) for their stoma supplies (86%, 68/79)
Catheter care (60 respondents)
• Most respondents were satisfied with the catheter service, with 72% (37/52) reporting they were very satisfied (35%,18/52) or satisfied (37%,19/52)
• Most respondents said they were always treated with dignity and respect in relation to their catheter care (69%, 35/51), though 20% (10/51) said this was sometimes the case.
• Almost half of respondents (49%, 26/53) said they had never had a catheter review
• The majority of respondents used a home delivery service (Direct Appliance Contractor) for catheter supplies (85%, 46/54).
Transanal irrigation (TAI) care (9 respondents)
• TAI care: A small number of responses were received (n=9). Feedback was considered indicative only and highlighted largely positive experiences where specialist support was available, alongside a need for clearer pathways and reviews.
• Most respondents were satisfied with the TAI service, with 67% (6/9) reporting they were very satisfied (56%, 5/9) or satisfied (11%, 1/9).
• Most respondents said they were always treated with dignity and respect in relation to their TAI care (78%, 7/9).
• 67% (6/9) said that they had never had a review of their TAI
• Over half of respondents used a home delivery service (Direct Appliance Contractor) for their TAI supplies (56%, 5/9).
Across stoma, catheter and TAI care similar feedback was received for:
What worked well:
People said services worked best when they could manage independently, had access to knowledgeable support, and experienced simple and reliable ordering and supply arrangements.
What could be improved:
People consistently highlighted the need for more regular and planned reviews and quicker access to support when problems arose.
What was missing:
Across all three services, people reported unclear care pathways and not always knowing who to contact for advice, with stoma respondents particularly highlighting the need for clearer advice and support after surgery.
The difference it’s made
The feedback helped identify where care was working well and where improvements were needed, particularly around reviews, access to specialist support and post‑discharge care.
Findings shared internally with the Medicines Optimisation team to inform service improvement discussions and support future work to strengthen pathways and patient experience.
What’s next?
The findings will be used to inform future service improvement work, with a focus on strengthening pathways, access to reviews and specialist support. Updates will be shared as this work progresses.