Resources

Childhood continence problems are common. One in 12 children are affected by a bowel or bladder problem: that’s around three children in every primary school class. Here, Jackie Fuidge discusses what ERIC, the Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity, has to offer.

clinical nurse specialist for bladder and bowel; chair, RCN Bladder & Bowel Forum; Queen’s Nurse  

Eighty percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will end up with erectile dysfunction after treatment (Downing et al, 2019). Yet, talking about sex, treating erectile dysfunction, and meeting the man’s needs after treatment is often lower down on the healthcare professional’s agenda. Prostate Cancer UK found that sex and erectile dysfunction is the biggest unmet need for men with prostate cancer.

Covid-19 has rapidly altered service provision and specialist professionals working across different geographical areas have not yet had sufficient opportunity to come together in person and process what these changes mean for their practice and patients. This upheaval has, of course, affected everyone whose work touches on bladder and bowel issues.

This article, the second in a two-part series, discusses conservative treatments for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, which should be considered as first-line options where possible. 

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.