Wound and ostomy care

Our wound and stoma care nurses help people with different types of wounds, and those living with a stoma. Working as part of the surgical care team, they assess the problem, plan the care and teach you how to manage it at home.

What is wound care and ostomy care?

Wound care and ostomy care are two linked nursing services. Wound care nurses assess and treat wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, burn, and chronic wounds. Ostomy (or stoma) care nurses support people living with a stoma, an opening in the abdomen that allows waste to pass into a pouch. They teach self-care of the stoma and the skin around it. Both work alongside the surgeons and doctors who treat the underlying condition, rather than replacing them.

Who is this service for?

You may be referred to the wound and stoma care team if you have:

• A wound that is slow to heal, such as a diabetic foot ulcer or leg ulcer
• A surgical wound that has opened or is not healing
• A new stoma (colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy)
• Sore or broken skin around your stoma
• A stoma that leaks, or a pouch that will not stay in place
• A burn that needs regular dressings
• Traumatic wounds such as cuts or wounds from accidents

Spreading redness around a wound, increasing pain, a high temperature or feeling generally unwell can be signs of a spreading infection: seek urgent medical care.

Most people reach this service through a referral from their surgeon, hospital team or family doctor, rather than by booking directly. If you're preparing for stoma surgery, you'll usually meet a stoma care nurse beforehand to plan and get ready. Wounds are more likely to be slow to heal if you have diabetes or poor circulation, so early help can stop a small problem becoming a serious one.

What to expect

At a first appointment, the nurse examines the wound or stoma and asks about your health and how it affects your daily life. A wound is measured and checked for infection, so the nurse can work out what's slowing the healing. If you have a stoma, they will examine it and the skin around it, check how well your pouch is fitting and how you are managing it, and then work with you to create a care plan that suits your needs.

Treatment depends on what the nurse finds. A wound may be cleaned and dressed to support healing. If needed, dead or damaged tissue may be removed, or compression may be used to reduce swelling and support healing. Stoma care includes fitting the right pouch, caring for sore skin and teaching you how to manage your stoma at home. The nurse will explain the available options, recommend the most appropriate care and arrange any follow-up you may need.

Wound care and ostomy care at Mediclinic

We provide wound and stoma care within our general surgery services. This care is available at our hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Our wound care nurses work with the surgical team to treat wounds that are slow to heal, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries and surgical wounds. Where it helps, we use methods like negative-pressure (vacuum) therapy to encourage healing.

Our teams provide stoma care, helping you look after the stoma and settle into daily life. This care continues as the wound heals, or as you grow more confident managing the stoma.

Symptoms: People usually come to wound and stoma care with a particular wound, or with a stoma after surgery, rather than with a symptom to look up.