Children’s continence clinics

Who are these clinics for?

These clinics are for children under the age of 16 years with any of the following:

Bed wetting

From age 6 years if there has been no improvement over 6 months after following advice to increase drinks and going to the toilet with no nappies or pull ups for 1 week during this time. This advice may be given by a GP, health visitor, community nursery nurse, school nurse or MAST support worker*.

Daytime wetting

From age 4 years if there has been no improvement for 3 months after following advice to increase drinks and go to the toilet regularly, and the GP has ruled constipation and urinary tract infections. This advice may be given by a GP, health visitor, community nursery nurse, school nurse or MAST support worker.

Constipation

When there has been no improvement following treatment for 3 months by GP*.

Soiling

When there has been no improvement following treatment for 3 months by GP*.

Toilet training

Toilet training problems from age 5 years, including children with special needs, after input and supervision for 6 months by a GP, health visitor, community nursery nurse, school nurse or MAST support worker.

Continence products may be available for child and young people aged 4 years and above who have additional needs and where toilet training is not possible. This part of the service is only available only through a referral from a GP.

*This advice follows guidelines provided by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE)

Who can refer you to these clinics?

GP’s, Health visitors, school nurses can refer you to these clinics.

What could happen at your visit?

Children and their parents or carers will have the opportunity to talk about the problem and how it affects them.

A full assessment will be carried out including a physical examination. A urine sample may also be needed.

Charts may be sent before the first appointment to help assess the problems. Other investigations may be arranged.

Information about the child’s condition will be given and children and their parents or carers will be involved in deciding what would be the best course of action. This could include:

• general advice
• advice about drinks and diet
• medication or alarm therapy for bed-wetting
• a toilet training programme
• laxatives for constipation

We aim to work in partnership with families and ask for their cooperation in our management and treatment plans.

Please note that your child may not be seen by the same health professional in clinic at every appointment but may see another member of the team without compromising the care of the child.

Meet the team

• Dr Sona Matthai – Consultant Paediatrician, Trust Lead for Continence
• Dr Patrice Tom – Specialty Doctor in Community Paediatrics
• Dr Onye Ezi – Specialty Doctor in Community Paediatrics
• Rebecca Woodward – Paediatric Continence Team Manager
• Donna Bartholomew – Paediatric Continence Nurse Specialist
• Shelly Stuart – Paediatric Continence Nurse Specialist
• Saliha Hamroun- Paediatric Continence Nurse Specialist
• Theresa Cordin-  Paediatric Continence Nurse Specialist
• Gill Newbold – Paediatric Continence Advisor
• Debbie Wharton – Continence Support Worker
• Lizzie Keenan – Continence Support Worker
• Courtney Barker – Continence Support Worker