Continence
The Continence service provides specialist nursing assessment, treatment, education and self-management support for people experiencing bladder or bowel dysfunction.
Bladder and bowel problems:
- Are very common
- Effect males and females of all ages
- Can cause embarrassment, anxiety and distress.
There are many symptoms that people can experience associated with bladder and bowel dysfunction, but common problems include urgency when needing to pass urine, difficulties fully emptying the bowels or bladder or incontinence.
What is incontinence and how can the service help you?
Incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine (wee), flatus (wind) or opening of your bowels (poo).
Our specialist team of nurses will complete a full assessment to understand the difficulties and symptoms you are experiencing.
The team focus is on treating the cause of your symptoms and any incontinence, with the aim of promoting continence and independence.
We will also teach you about your condition and support you with self-management.
Who can be referred to the continence service?
The service is for anyone 18 years and over who has bladder and/or bowel problems and is registered with a GP in the east Surrey area.
Please ask your GP or healthcare professional to refer you to the service.
Once a referral has been received, we will contact you and ask you to complete a continence assessment bowel, bladder and food / drink diary for four complete days. This can be accessed below and is key to us understanding your individual needs.
Once you have completed these and returned them to us, we will arrange for you to have an appointment.
If you have any difficulty completing your forms, please do let us know and we can help you.
Can I get incontinence products or pads on the NHS?
Some, but not all patients will be eligible for incontinence products on the NHS.
Patients experiencing mild incontinence will not be eligible for incontinence products on the NHS. Patients with moderate to severe incontinence will be eligible.
This is dependent on having completed any treatment plans for your bladder and bowel dysfunction and the severity of incontinence you continue to experience.
The continence nurses will assess this on completion of your treatment.
Incontinence products or pads cannot be prescribed by the Continence team without an assessment being carried out by a nurse first.
Service contact details
Our service operates Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Telephone number: 01737 777712
Email: fchc.continence@nhs.net
Where can you get further advice and support?
- Products to help with urinary incontinence (NHS):
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-incontinence/incontinence-products/ - straightforward, general information about incontinence products - Continence Product Advisor: https://www.continenceproductadvisor.org/ - independent and evidence-based advice on how to choose and use suitable products specific for your needs. Products to help manage incontinence are available to buy in chemist shops, supermarkets and on-line
- Age UK Incontinence: https://help.ageukincontinence.co.uk - support and helpful information on managing incontinence
- Bowel and Bladder UK: https://www.bbuk.org.uk/ - provide a continence helpline to provide advice on bladder and bowel health, managing incontinence, products and signposting to additional services.
