NHSE excellence-in-continence-care-guidance 2018

This guidance is a refreshed and updatede-resource that builds on an earlier publicationfrom November 2015.

Continence is an important component in aperson’s health and well-being at any stage oflife and is also an important factor in the use of
health resources for the following reasons:
• Normal bowel and bladder function is animportant part of a child’s development andtheir path to adult and independent living.
Failure to acquire control in a timely mannerwill affect schooling and education.
• Adult incontinence produces markedloss of self-esteem, depression, loss ofindependence, and can affect relationships
and employment prospects.
• In older people, incontinence and associatedbladder and bowel disorders may beassociated with physical problems such as
skin breakdown, falls, urine infection andcatheter associated urinary tract infectionwhich in turn often causes confusion.
Confusion can result in falls, head injury orfemur fractures requiring an acute hospitaladmission.
• Incontinence or dependence on a urinarycatheter signifcantly increases the level ofdependency in frail older people. This may
delay discharge from hospital or initiatea move into a residential or nursing caresetting.