Continence and urology service
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About the service
The continence and urology service provides specialist bladder and bowel assessment, treatment and management for service users with an identified incontinence problem.
We offer specialist assessment in a clinical setting or in the individual’s own home if necessary. Assessments can include bladder scans where necessary and will take into account bladder and bowel history, lifestyle and environmental factors in order to determine the most appropriate treatment method. Possible medications are suggested when needed – staff will discuss and identify all possible side effects and advantages, and the correct method of administration of medication. We also provide a referral to other agencies if appropriate.
Where continence aids and appliances are suggested, delivery of identified items will be organised and full instructions on how to apply to maximise their effectiveness demonstrated. Ongoing assessment will be made either face to face or over the telephone, liaising with other health professionals as indicated.
Why would someone choose the service?
- The service has received a range of positive feedback from patient surveys
- We provide the ability to be reviewed by the same staff – enabling consistency of care
- Patients can be seen in a variety of settings – both in clinical areas or in their own home when needed
- When the need for continence products is identified, these are delivered direct to person’s home, and the individual is able to contact the service to reorder products
Staff you may meet
- A care navigator provides advice and support to individuals their families or carers during their care. They often make home visits and support hospital discharges. Care navigators can also signpost and refer individuals to the appropriate services or help arrange care based on the individual’s needs.
- Dietitians use the science of food to help people to make good choices about food and lifestyle. Nutrition is an important part of recovery and wellbeing. All service users admitted to a Trust ward have their nutritional state assessed.
- There are more than 60 different specialities that doctors work within the NHS. Each is unique but there are many characteristics which are common. Roles range from working in a hospital to being based in the community as a GP.
- There are many people who work behind the scenes to keep services running and you may meet them in hospital or community settings. They include porters, cleaners, plumbers, electricians, decorators receptionists and secretaries who all work to make sure healthcare settings are kept clean, tidy and safe.
- Nurses who choose to specialise in the mental health branch of nursing work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients. Increasingly, care is given in the community, with mental health nurses visiting patients and their families at home, in residential centres, in prisons or in specialist clinics or units.
- Nursing or healthcare assistants work in hospital or community settings under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. They help doctors, nurses and therapists give people the care and treatment they need.
- Occupational therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific, purposeful activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life.
- The NHS employs a wide range of clinical staff, it wouldn’t be possible to list them all on this website! All our clinical staff are skilled, dedicated professionals who adhere to high standards of training and work-place practice.
- Physiotherapists help people to improve their range of movement in order to promote health and well being. This can help people to live more independently.
- Social workers help, support and protect people who are facing difficulties in their lives. They help people to take positive steps to overcome problems and improve their lives. This could involve assessing and reviewing a service user’s situation, building relationships with service users and their families and agreeing what practical support someone needs.
- We have a range of specialist advisors working in our Trust – they give advice on a wide range of different things, depending on what service they work in. So it could be, for example, mental health, stopping smoking, healthy eating or diabetes.
- We have a range of health workers who all have different specialities. This could be in a certain condition, a therapy or the advice they can give you. Our specialists our highly skilled and trained professionals, ready to offer you help and advice whenever you need it.
Why a professional should choose the service
- The service provides evidence-based training to health professionals in bladder and bowel management, particularly the skill in male and supra-pubic catheterisation
- Audit reports on the current service identifies an excellent high standard of service delivery
- The service is able to respond in a quick and efficient manner for patient bladder and bowel assessment and management, providing consistency of care
- The service is compliant with NICE guidelines and effectively maintains budget control on providing continence aids.
- The service supports care homes and agencies in managing their client’s bladder and bowel conditions
- We provide excellent educational and support networks for all other health professionals.
Support offered
- Patient lifestyle education on diet and fluids
- Education of normal body functions
- Individualised pelvic floor exercise programs
- Hygiene care
- Aids and appliances
- Health screening advice for bowel cancer, cervical smears, urine specimens, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) bloods
- Referral to secondary care or other health professionals
Outcomes
- Enable people to take control of their bladder and or bowel problem
- Maintain dignity by using appropriate aids and appliances
- Help facilitate early and prompt discharge from hospital with ongoing community support of their condition
- Help reduce urinary tract infection and reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and need for hospitalisation
- Help reduce deterioration of skin integrity
- Reduce the need to attend emergency department, particularly in relation to male catheterisation and problematic insertions
Referrals accepted from:
A & E, AHPs, Carers/family, CMHTs, Consultants, Courts, Drug/alcohol agencies, GP staff, GPs, Health visitors, Hospital staff, Housing associations, Local authority staff, Midwives, Other NHS services, Other Trust services, Patients(self-referral), Police, Single Point of Access team, Voluntary services
Referral criteria:
- Any person with an identified bladder and or bowel problem, who is registered with a Barnsley GP.
- Children aged 4 years onwards with a statement of special educational needs, and under the care of a consultant paediatrician.
- Urgent referrals can be made via telephone.