Our Volunteers NHS70

Bow Heath - Volunteers in Stoma Clinic, City Hospital

Bow Heath Meet Bow Heath! Bow is one of our long serving volunteers and has worked at City Hospital Stoma Outpatients for over 40 years since becoming a patient on the Stoma Ward in her twenties.

She said: “I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease at the age of 10 and had surgery to remove the bowel aged 27. My surgeon, Mr Masterman, told me that he wanted me to join the outpatient’s clinic to share my experience as a young person with patients going through the same and similar experiences. During my recovery period, I remember the sister taking me down to the clinic in a wheelchair and I haven't looked back since.”

The clinic runs on the first Saturday of every month and is managed by specialist stoma nurses. The volunteers jointly front the stoma clinic for the nurses, logging in patients as they arrive, sending them through to the nurses and looking after the day to day running of the clinic. 

The clinic also encourages group discussion, providing the opportunity for people with a stoma to exchange views and ideas on their shared problems and successes.

When asked about how she feels to be one of the longest serving volunteers at NUH, Bow said: "I'm very proud of my 42 years of volunteering at Nottingham City Hospital and hope to continue supporting the clinic.”

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication Bow!