Facts
Incontinence is a symptom not a disease and it always has an underlying cause.
Many people’s quality of life can be affected by urinary (wee) or faecal (poo) incontinence.
It can affect anyone at any age; it is not just an elderly problem.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be affected by incontinence at some stage in their lives.
Caring for a relative can be made difficult when they are unable to control their bladder or bowels.
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
- Leak urine when you cough, laugh or sneeze.
- Go to the toilet frequently during the day or night.
- Go to the toilet several times at night.
- Not getting to the toilet in time.
- Have difficulty in starting to pass urine.
- Have problems with constipation.
- Have bouts of diarrhoea.
- Experience slight soiling of your underwear.
Who are we, and what do we do?
We are a team of specialist nurses and we provide a variety of specialist continence treatments and advice for both men and women who have bladder or bowel problems.
You do not need to be incontinent to receive treatment and support from us. For example, you may feel that you go to the toilet too frequently, or that your lifestyle is too limited due to your bladder or bowel problems.
We offer confidential telephone advice, clinic appointments and home visits should you be housebound.
Clinics are held weekly across Doncaster.
We will see anyone from the age of 18 years old onwards, who has a registered Doncaster GP.
How can I be referred?
You can be referred by your GP, nurse, consultant or carer.
What will happen on my initial appointment?
A full continence assessment will be carried out. Much of the assessment process involves history taking.
Pelvic floor examination
We sometimes assess pelvic floor strength by doing a vaginal examination for women or a rectal examination for men. This is subject to your consent, please do not worry if you would rather not have this done, we will still be able to help.
Bladder scan
We may need to perform a scan of the bladder to ensure that the bladder is emptying properly and a urine test to highlight any abnormalities of a urinary tract infection that may be making your symptoms worse.
This is a painless procedure; ultrasound gel will be placed on your abdomen and an ultrasound probe is used to obtain a picture of your bladder onto a screen. Any residual urine is shown on the screen.
What treatments do you offer?
Some of the treatments we offer include.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation
After assessment, we can offer a comprehensive treatment programme to improve pelvic floor muscle strength.
Further information and support can be found using the getUBetter app (opens in new window).
Bladder retraining
We retrain the bladder to “hold on” for longer, treating urgency and frequency.
Bladder emptying techniques
For those patients who are unable to empty their bladders properly, we can teach double voiding techniques or use bladder stimulators to assist the bladder to empty properly. We may also teach patients to perform self-catheterisation in order to relieve their symptoms.
Trial without catheters
A trial without catheter (TWOC) is when a catheter (the tube inserted into your bladder to drain urine) is removed from the bladder for a trial period to determine whether you are able to pass urine spontaneously.
Bowel retraining
This includes retraining the anal sphincter to enable the person to regain control of their bowels.
Anal irrigation
To manage the symptoms of constipation or faecal incontinence we may teach patients how to use anal irrigation to manage their symptoms.
What should I bring to an appointment?
Your appointment letter will include a 3-day bladder diary and a bowel chart for you or your carer to complete and bring to your appointment. You will also need to bring a list of your current medication and a fresh urine sample.
What if I am unable to attend a clinic appointment due to being housebound?
A nurse will arrange to see you at home. You will be sent a bladder or stool chart with your letter confirming the date that the nurse will be visiting.
Catheter clinic
We offer a catheter clinic for non-housebound patients to attend to have their routine catheters changed.
Containment products
Containment products can only be provided once a continence assessment has taken place and treatment has been considered.
If you are currently purchasing your own products we would ask you to continue to do this until your continence assessment has been completed.
A pad weigh will be discussed and arranged by your nurses. This allows the nurse to assess the degree of incontinence so that we can prescribe the most appropriate product.
Further information regarding the service and our clinics is available from the specialist continence service below.
Contact specialist continence
Continence service staff uniforms
- Advanced healthcare assistant, light blue uniform, navy piping.
- Staff nurse, hospital blue uniform, white piping.
- Sister, navy blue uniform, white piping.
- Clinical team lead, navy blue uniform, gold piping.
Document control
- Document reference: DP7933/10.23.
- Date reviewed: October 2023.
Page last reviewed: November 18, 2024
Next review due: November 18, 2025
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