Unit 224
Outcome 1
1) Explain how difficulties with continence can affect an individual’s self-esteem, health and their day to day activities.
Difficulties with continence can affect an individual’s self-esteem, health and their day to day activities. Incontinence sufferers have been known to lose self-esteem and confidence and even withdraw from their usual circle of friends and family. The fear of being found out can make an individual feel ashamed of their condition. These feelings as a whole can impact negatively on an individual’s life. If the incontinence is due to a urinary infection, this could cause intimacy issues, leading to fear of rejection from a spouse. Family outings or sports activities may be affected due to fear of
You don’t need to be referred by your GP and you can phone them directly to make an appointment. On your first visit, a continence adviser, usually a nurse, who specialises in bowel and bladder problems, will assess you and explain your incontinence treatment options.
Continence advisers, and the incontinence physiotherapists who work alongside them, are particularly good at teaching pelvic floor exercises to women with stress incontinence (sudden leaks) and bladder training to women with urge incontinence (regular urges to use the toilet). They can also issue pelvic-floor-strengthening devices, such as vaginal cones, and continence pads and products, as well as explaining how to use them.
To find details of your local NHS continence clinic:
Call the Bladder and Bowel Foundation (B&BF) confidential helpline on 0845 345 0165, or use the continence clinic directory on the B&BF website (you have to register to use this online facility).
Call your local hospital for details of your nearest clinic.

The hospital incontinence specialist
If the help offered by your GP or local continence clinic doesn’t work, you can be referred to a hospital urologist or urogynaecologist for tests and possible incontinence surgery. If you have bowel incontinence you may be referred to a colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist .
According to Karen Logan, only 10-15% of patients who attend continence clinics