At Atos Care, we are proud to offer a complimentary nursing service to all patients. Our dedicated Head and Neck Specialist Nurses can support you by phone, text, email, and in some areas, through home visits.
A Real Story From Our Nursing Team
In this story, one of our field nurses, Sarah, shares how she supported a patient with sore, damaged skin around the stoma. Skin problems in this area can be painful and upsetting, but with the right care and support, they can often be improved or prevented. If you are worried about your skin, please contact your Atos Care representative or email us at info@atos-care.co.uk so we can put you in touch with one of our specialist nurses.
Sarah worked with a laryngectomy patient whose skin around the stoma had become badly damaged. Her goal was to help the skin heal, improve comfort, and support safer, more confident voicing. We know that skin problems can affect more than physical health. They can also have a big impact on confidence, independence, and day-to-day quality of life. When Sarah first met the patient, the skin around her stoma was very sore. The patient described it as “very bad” and was experiencing pain, irritation, and difficulty using her usual routine for voicing. Because the skin was damaged, her baseplates would not stick properly, which left her feeling upset, frustrated, and unable to rely on her voice.
Sarah’s Step‑by‑Step Care Plan
Over six visits, Sarah put together a step-by-step plan to help the skin heal.
- She carried out an initial assessment and found that the patient’s skincare routine was too limited for the condition of the skin.
- She arranged helpful supplies, including saline, gauze, and medical-grade honey cream, and also provided a Provox Life Night baseplate for limited voicing.
- She worked closely with the hospital speech and language therapy team to make sure the patient’s care was joined up.
- Different devices, including a Larybutton and Larytube, were tried to support voicing, but Sarah adapted the plan when these were not comfortable for the patient.
- She introduced a more structured cleansing and skincare routine using products suited to the patient’s needs.
- She gave practical advice about allowing the skin time to heal and explained when it was important to avoid baseplates temporarily.
- As the skin improved, baseplates were gradually reintroduced to support voicing while still protecting the skin.
How the Skin Improved Over Time
With regular support and a structured plan, the patient’s skin condition improved significantly. She experienced less inflammation and irritation, healthier skin, better tolerance of cleansing and creams, and was eventually able to use baseplates again more safely.
Just as importantly, the patient felt more confident, less distressed, and relieved to be able to voice again. She also became more engaged with her self-care. Her feedback was simple but powerful: her “skin improved ++”.
More Ways Atos Care Supports You
Atos Care offers much more than a delivery service. We are the only care service dedicated solely to neck breathers, and our support includes:
- A dedicated representative: You or your carer will have one main point of contact who can get to know your needs, help you place orders, and support you in making the most of our service.
- A team of specialist Head and Neck Nurses: Our nurses are available by phone and, in some cases, face-to-face. If you have any concerns or questions, we are here to help.
- Blog posts: Our blog includes tips, guidance, and real experiences from fellow patients and healthcare professionals to help support life after laryngectomy.
- Patient events: We run a range of online and in-person events to help you stay informed and connected.
*Our field nursing service is not available in every part of the UK. Please speak to your dedicated representative to find out whether this support is available in your area.