The primary aim of the Continence Service is to provide individualised care programmes for patients with bladder and bowel dysfunction, and where possible, to totally alleviate incontinence. The secondary aims of the service are to provide education to the multi-disciplinary team, to raise awareness, ensure cost effectiveness, to ensure provision of quality and appropriate continence products to our clients, and to improve accessibility to the service.
The Continence Service is available to all clients who reside within geographical confines of the Trust area with the main base offices being in Bangor Hospital, Downe Hospital and Lisburn Primary & Community Care Centre.
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Referrals
The referral protocol is a very open one, and consists of only three criteria:
- are motivated to comply with treatment programmes
- and have no cognitive impairment
Patients may self-refer by ringing through to one of the above numbers that best matches their locality.
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Urodynamic Service
The Continence Service also provides urodynamic service, referrals are accepted from consultants and staff within the continence team, where patients have failed conservative treatments and are likely to benefit from surgical interventions.
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Out of Hours
An answering machine service operates in Bangor and Lisburn base offices.
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Community Trial Removal of Catheter (TROC)
The continence service also provides a Community Trial Removal of Catheter (TROC) service for patients who are deemed suitable for a TROC within the community setting. Referrals are accepted from GPs and acute urology services. This service is also supported by our colleagues in District Nursing.