Continence Service Delivered by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
We are a nursing team specialising in the assessment, treatment and education of patients with continence problems, along with their families and carers. We provide professional advice support and education. We will maintain effective communication with your GP and if appropriate, the urologist or physiotherapist involved in your care, keeping them up to date on any decisions regarding health care requirements. The continence service is confidential and is tailored to meet your needs. We provide both a clinical and an advisory service, offering treatment and a management plan that is best for you. What can I expect from the service? We run clinics in locations within Sutton and provide home visits to those unable to attend clinics. We provide individualised care and work in partnership with you to develop a management plan to promote continence where possible. Helping you to self-manage your continence problems is the key to improving your health and independence and to decide on the best treatment. Assessment: Your first appointment will consist of a detailed assessment to identify your needs. Your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will: Expect you to bring a completed bladder and bowel diary Ask you to provide a urine specimen for testing Ask about your symptoms and how these affect your everyday life Discuss your medication with you Carry out a bladder scan Perform a physical examination Inform your GP of any recommended changes to your treatment 2 3
Treatment Treatment will depend on the type of incontinence you have and the severity of the symptoms. The following measures are tried first: Advice on how to manage your daily activities Treatment and advice on medication Education and self management resources Advice on how to do pelvic floor exercises Advice on how to do bladder retraining exercises Lifestyle advice There may be instances where we may refer you to your GP or other services for further investigations; this will be with your consent. What does the service expect from me? We expect patients to attend all appointments. If you need to cancel your appointment please contact the administration centre on the number provided below. Is there a cost for this service? This is a free service for all who are eligible for NHS care. Continence aids will not be supplied before an initial continence assessment by a registered nurse. Continence aids are provided free however there is a limit to the amount of products supplied and this is based on clinical need. There are instances when you may be directed to supplement the products supplied. Pads are delivered two weeks after the first assessment. Deliveries after this time are activated by the patient or the carer by contacting the supplier on 0845 600 6325 ext 2. Please be aware that moderate to severe levels of incontinence are the criteria for pads from the community continence service. You may be directed to buy your own pads from local chemists and shops or by mail order. Please consider the needs of our staff and provide them with a smoke free environment. Please refrain from smoking for at least one hour before the team member arrives and open windows and doors to fully ventilate the area. 4 5
For advice on giving up smoking contact: Stop Smoking Live Well NHS Choices Freephone: 0800 652 8019 Or visit: www.nhs.uk/ smokefree They offer: Free local advice and support group or one to one basis Confidential and friendly service Stop smoking medications on prescription What happens when the service ends? You will remain under review until your condition stabilises and you feel able to manage your condition going forward. Even after discharge you will have the option to self refer back to the service as needed. However, if you are receiving continence products from our service you will be seen and reviewed in clinic every six months. This is to review your continence needs, review your treatment plan, and to ensure you are receiving the appropriate medication or containment products. It also provides an opportunity to discuss new products that may meet your needs more effectively. How can I be referred for this service? Any member of the health care team can refer you. This includes your practice nurse, community nurse, GP, social worker and specialist hospital nurses. If you are already known to the continence nurses you can self refer to the service. All referrals will be assessed to ensure they meet our service criteria and establish if other services are more appropriate to meet your needs. Contact details Sutton Community Health Services Telephone: 0845 567 2000 Our service working hours are: Monday to Friday 8:00am 6:00pm Out of hours: if you have any concerns and believe you require clinical advice then please call NHS 111 Sharing information and record keeping If we refer you to other health or social care professionals, we may need to share your records with them. Records may be held on computer or in the form of written notes. Sharing information will only happen with your agreement, unless there are exceptional circumstances such as a health and safety risk to you, or others. 6 7
Sutton Community Health Services are delivered by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and funded by Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group. Copyright 2013 The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust All rights reserved Printed April 2016 Planned review April 2019 Sutton Community Health Services www.schs.nhs.uk This booklet is evidence based wherever the appropriate evidence is available, and represents an accumulation of expert opinion and professional interpretation. Details of the references used in writing this booklet are available on request from: The Royal Marsden Help Centre Freephone: 0800 783 7176 Email: patientcentre@rmh.nhs.uk No conflicts of interest were declared in the production of this booklet. The information in this booklet is correct at the time of going to print. SCHS-1423-01