Colorectal (bowel)

Your Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialists covering Bishop Auckland Hospital and Darlington Memorial Hospital are Sharron Berezanskij and Sarah Dixon and for the University Hospital of North Durham they are Julie Smith and Louise Chalmers.

Sharron, Sarah, Julie and Louise are specialist nurses with skills and experience in caring for people with colorectal cancer.  They will be your key point of contact with the hospital during your cancer treatment and will provide support to you and your family.  Most people are diagnosed with a colorectal cancer after first visiting a GP for symptom management or through the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.  We are aware that this is a difficult and often confusing time and are available to answer your questions and offer support to you throughout your journey.

What you can expect from your Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialists:

• Written information about your cancer, investigations, treatments or symptoms
• Assurance that the investigative process will run smoothly and efficiently
• Identification of your needs and concerns through the use of a Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning to help address any issues
• Emotional support, advice and referral to external agencies when appropriate for additional support in the community
• Access to welfare and financial support through the Macmillan information centres
• Liaison with other centres/health care professionals who may be involved in your care.

You will be seen in the outpatient department when your treatment is planned and afterwards, during your follow up care.