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There are many other opportunities for nurses and allied health professionals to get involved with specialist groups, and high quality information online.

Associations and groups

Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN)

ASCN shares expert clinical practice, promoting educational and research opportunities, developing and advancing the specialist knowledge required to deliver expert health care to individuals with a stoma.

Beating Bowel Cancer

Beating Bowel Cancer is a charity supporting everyone affected by bowel cancer. It works with colorectal nursing specialists, providing resources and supporting the National Colorectal Cancer Nurses Network and the Scottish Colorectal Cancer Nurses Group. For information see the Health Professionals section of their website.

National Nurse Endoscopist Network Group (NNENG)

Support and communication network for practitioners working in endoscopy. A specialist group of the British Society of Gastroenterology Nurses Association Committee.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

RCN is a trade union representing the professional interests of nursing staff in the UK. They support professional development, promote research into nursing, and have one of the largest specialist nursing libraries in Europe.


Training and research

CICRA: Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association

Support and information to families of children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Their research programme sponsors Research Training Fellowships and PhD studentships, and gives grants for approved research projects.

St Mark’s Academic Institute

Centre of education and research at St Mark’s Hospital, the only specialist bowel hospital in the UK. Has a programme of postgraduate courses in intestinal and colorectal disease. Videos, course presentations and talks are available to view online.


Sources of information

Bladder and Bowel Foundation

The Foundation is a supportive community for anyone affected by bladder and bowel conditions. It has Healthcare Professional resource centre on its website.

Bowel Cancer UK

The UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity. It aims to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by bowel cancer. It provides up-to-date information about bowel cancer.

Colostomy Association

Provides support, reassurance and practical information to anyone who has or is about to have a colostomy. They also have a range of services to medical professionals including stoma prescribing guidelines, literature and factsheets.

Continence Product Advisor

Website giving impartial researched advice for continence product users and healthcare professionals.

Core: fighting all digestive diseases

Core supports medical research into digestive diseases to provide more effective treatment and earlier diagnosis, and provides evidence-based information for patients

Crohn’s & Colitis UK

A charity working to fight the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Its members include people with IBD, their families and friends, and health professionals. They have a helpline and information for patients and professionals. They also support research and campaign for better services.

ERIC: The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity

ERIC provides information, support and resources to children, young people and their families and health professionals on bladder and bowel problems.

IBD Passport

Evidence-based travel advice for individuals with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Supports people diagnosed with cancer to take back control of their lives. Also supports health professionals by providing tools, networking opportunities and patient information sheets.

National Institute for Health and Excellence (NICE)

Offers evidence-based guidance and other products to help resolve uncertainty about which medicines, treatments, procedures and devices represent the best quality care and which offer the best value for money for the NHS. Also produces public health guidance. Register for NICE alerts on their website

Nursing in Practice

Website of the Nursing in Practice journal. Has a wide range of resources and news and includes a section on gastrointestinal conditions.