Continence report

Healthwatch North Lincolnshire was asked by the local Trust to undertake some engagement with service users about the local continence service following changes to staffing. They created surveys for the public and for professionals.  They received 19 responses.

The findings highlight variations in the length of time service users waited for assessment and the impact long waits had. In addition, most professionals stated that those they worked with were not assessed in a timely manner. The public survey revealed that Information given during assessments could be improved and that management plans often didn’t include information about exercises or treatment to help regain continence. 

Professionals, on the other hand, felt that individual care plans did contain relevant information. Overall service users felt involved with their management plans with most being able to discuss their views, during assessment. 

The public survey showed that most management plan reviews were carried out by continence nurses but the frequency of these differed from person to person. Most service users who had had an assessment needed containment products and had been given information about the products that might be suitable for them. However, only two people felt that they had been given choices around quantity. Similarly, four out of six professionals felt that the people they worked with were not provided with the right amount of containment products. 

Service users and those responding on their behalf indicated that the time people waited for their continence products after being assessed ranged from straight away to more than a week. Finally, all professionals working in residential care felt confident with continence care and had received relevant training.

The report contains six recommendations about reducing waiting times, provision of information for those waiting for their assessment; the content of management plans; consulting with service users and timely delivery of products.