Resources

Last year, as part of continence awareness week, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trusts adult continence team launched their ‘taste the difference challenge’. The team worked collaboratively with ward staff and housekeepers in Leicester’s Hospitals, to promote and offer decaffeinated tea and coffee to inpatients across the trust.

In this article, the first in a new regional series, Ann Yates examines how the initial NHS was set up, how devolution in Wales has changed how services in Wales are commissioned and how this has impacted on continence/bladder/bowel care in Wales.

Fluid balance monitoring in health and social care has been a routine monitoring tool carried out by nursing staff for many decades. This article looks at the variety in terminology and practice, discusses the importance of maintaining accurate monitoring, and the essential components of a useful monitoring tool. It also identifies some of the challenges faced in maintaining effective monitoring of fluid balance with suggestions for improving practice.

Indwelling urinary catheters remain one of the most used clinically invasive devices in the UK, with approximately 90,000 people living in community settings in England currently using long-term urinary catheters. Use of a catheter valve system may improve the chance of normal bladder function resuming following the removal of the catheter. This article explores some of the clinical evidence supporting the use of catheter valves and advice on best practice.

Urinary tract infections are the second most common infection after chest infections. Here, The Urology Foundation highlights how they champion the nurses working in urology who go above and beyond to improve their patients’ treatment and care, and how one nurse transformed practice in the field of urinary catheters.

Like many organisations and charities, the Covid-19 pandemic hastened a rapid period of adaptation and diversification at ERIC, The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity. Here, Alina Lynden, ERIC’s communications manager explains how the charity has risen to the challenge. 

Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence are common problems experienced by women of all ages. This article, the first in a two-part series, discusses the signs and symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.  

Meg Burgess is a Specialist Nurse at Prostate Cancer UK, providing support and information to anyone diagnosed with or concerned about a prostate problem via telephone, email, and live chat services. In this article, Meg talks about  why fatigue support is needed, how it is delivered at Prostate Cancer UK, and the small changes men can make to help reduce the impact of fatigue on their quality of life.

The fourth and final part of the continence clinical skills series identifies how continence problems, which may not have responded to conservative treatment/ interventions, can be managed by the appropriate use of equipment/devices and products. The range available is vast and variable and some are more suitable to specific conditions than others. Healthcare professionals need to understand how they work to offer the best solution for individuals and their lifestyle. Products include, for example, commodes, urinals, sheaths, catheters, anal irrigation and pad products. This article specifically looks at equipment/devices and products for urinary retention, e.g. catheters; urinary incontinence, e.g. sheaths, pubic pressure devices; and faecal incontinence, e.g. anal plugs, transanal irrigation (TAI) and pad products.