Bladder and bowel problems are extremely common and affect approx. 1 in 4 adults at some point in their lives. In spite of it being a common problem many people feel embarrassed and distressed about it and can be reluctant to seek help.

Seeking help can really improve a persons’ quality of life with the right assessment and treatment programme.

Our Aim

Our aim is to improve, cure or effectively manage your condition. The Continence Service specialises in continence care and provides help and support to patients and carers whilst they are dealing with incontinence.

Continence Symptoms

There are different symptoms and reasons for continence problems including:

• Stress incontinence – Urinary leakage when you cough, laugh or sneeze
• Urge incontinence – Needing to rush to get to the toilet and sometimes leaking before you get there
• Nocturia – Waking up more than a couple of times in the night to pass urine
• Functional incontinence – Having a condition or disability that stops being able to remove your clothes quickly or get to the toilet in time
• Bowel Incontinence – Difficulty in controlling bowel movements

Care Plus Group Continence Service

The Continence Service consists of nurses experienced in continence care supported by clerical staff who manage the home delivery service. We provide a range of services including:

• Assessments, development and ongoing review of treatment or management plans for your continence problem
• Tips to promote a healthy lifestyle to improve or control symptoms- i.e. changes to diet or fluid intake
• Pelvic floor exercise programme
• Medication advice
• Support bladder and bowel training programmes
• Provide continence products where applicable
• Advice and support with catheter problems
• Telephone support for patients and healthcare professionals

The Continence Service will take referrals from patients and carers as well as any health care professional.

Continence Assessments

The continence assessment may be performed by either a member of the Continence Team or by the District Nursing Service. In order for this to take place we will need the following information.

• A urine sample in a clean container
• A 3 day bladder and/or bowel diary which your nurse will show you how to complete

Home Delivery Service for Continence Products

Containment products (pads) can only be provided once a continence assessment has taken place. If you are currently purchasing your own products we ask you to continue until the continence assessment has been completed.

The Continence Service works in partnership with a 3rd party supplier chosen after extensive quality control tests and trials.

Whilst we have a wide range of products to supply the type of product issued will be based on clinical need and may not be down to preference. We normally supply up to 4 products/day.

Samples are sent out to try to ensure we supply the most appropriate product and avoid unnecessary collections and deliveries. Once we are sure we can supply the correct product a delivery of 3 months’ supply will be arranged and written information given as to how to initiate further deliveries.