Continence Promotion and Care
Winner
Your Healthcare CIC: Bowel support service
Many of the learning disability (LD) team’s service users were prescribed laxatives to manage constipation and the team recognised that information given to prescribers was more informed when LD nurses were involved. To reduce reliance on the one team member who had had additional training in bowel management, an information pack and assessment tool were created. The content was agreed with the bladder and bowel team and all LD nurses were trained on their use. The new resources enabled them to carry out robust assessments, which were shared with the patient’s GP to aid prescribing decisions. The resources proved to be a great help to staff, and reduced the number of unnecessary daily laxative medications that were prescribed to patients.
Finalists
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board: Healthy bowel and bladder sessions
The North West Wales Paediatric Continence Team started teaching 9-11-year-olds area-wide about daytime wetting, constipation and bedwetting. Using costumes, balloons, coloured water and painted salt-dough stools, the team shows children how the bladder works and how to keep it healthy. Feedback has been positive and children who did not feel comfortable seeking help have been supported.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust: Continence Promotion Team
In response to there being no formal
education on continence care at the
trust, documentation such as the urinary
and faecal incontinence care plan was
developed to enable staff to personalise
care and encourage them not to use
pads as a first-line aid. Over 1,000 staff received continence training, stocks of
catheter fixation devices increased, and
the formulary of pads available in the
trust was streamlined to ensure these are
a last resort and meet a patient’s needs.
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust: Neuro-urology nurse-led Covid-19 recovery
This project aimed to reduce wait lists
through activities that needed no on-site
medical input. Nurse-led activities to
mitigate the risk of harm to patients with
spinal cord injury were implemented,
and nurse-led consultant, flexible
cystoscopy and sexual function clinics
were launched. Between 80% and 100%
of patients were reviewed in a timely
manner, all referrals were made and
diagnostic tests were booked.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust: Rebranding and promoting the bladder and bowel service
New staff were employed, who were
passionate about continence and
working as a team to promote the
rebranded service. Training was
revamped, and new teaching models,
care plans and assessment aids were
introduced. As a result, interest in
bladder and bowel health increased and
staff began working on a haematuria
tool for catheter patients.
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust: Reducing containment product use in the community
The trust was spending £650,000pa on
containment products for community
patients. Integrating the community and
hospital teams, and introducing
assessment and treatment pathways
alongside training for all staff, led to
savings of £100,000pa, despite an
increase in referrals. The number of
patients on products also reduced.
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust: Developing a community trial removal of catheter service
This service was set up so patients had
access to a trial removal of catheter
service in their own community. Patient
information leaflets were developed,
along with a community policy and
procedures. Wait lists for hospital-based
removals reduced, and surveys showed
patients are well informed about their
condition and happy with the service.
Landermeads Nursing Home: Quality of life and continence promotion in long-term dementia care
This nursing home ‘grows its own’ staff and its training focuses heavily on
empathy. Problems due to inappropriate
continence products were addressed
and products were updated. As a result,
residents were happier and their
independence increased. Behaviours of
concern, falls and urinary tract infections
were also reduced.
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust: Continence promotion and education
To address a lack of continence
management education for care home
staff and trained nurses, weekly and
monthly sessions on continence and
catheter care and insertion were held
in care homes. Feedback was so
positive, a package was specifically
developed for trained staff. Nurses in
care homes were also invited to training
sessions on digital rectal examination
and catheterisation.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: Purewick female external catheter as urinary catheter alternative
The aim of this improvement project was
to introduce the Purewick, a female
external catheter, trust wide to prevent
unnecessary urinary catheter insertion
and incorrect pad usage, reduce
moisture-associated skin damage and
prevent patient harm. More than 900
staff were successfully trained on its use
and placement, which led to it being
rolled out to all relevant areas.