Continence Service

The service aims to optimise health and wellbeing for individuals through specialist advice, support and treatment. You will be expected to complete a patient questionnaire and return to the service before your consultation. 

The continence service includes:

• Assessment and treatment planning to agree individualised goals.
• Post hospital discharge review and assessment.
• Optimisation and review of medication.
• Support, management and advice regarding deterioration in condition.
• Education and advice to support people with treatment and self-management strategies at home.
• Continence assessments in conjunction with the community nursing team and nursing homes.
• Continence pad provision for patients whose treatment plans have proved unsuccessful and have moderate to severe incontinence.

The service is available for adults aged over 18 with incontinence symptoms who are registered with a Guildford & Waverley GP. 

Your appointment will be following a referral from your GP, hospital specialist consultant or other health and social care professional.

Following your initial assessment by either a telephone consultation, at home or in a local community clinic, you and your carer are able to contact the continence nurse specialist or district nurse directly. Appointments are held...

• At home.
• Telephone consultation.
• At a local community clinic.

The service operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding weekends and bank holidays. Please also note that this is not an urgent service and we will be in contact within 28 working days from accepting your referral. Your GP can send an electronic referral on your behalf to the Community Coordination Centre

If you would like to speak to a generalist nurse at the weekends or out of hours, please call our Community Co-ordination Centre on 01483 362 020.

If your symptoms persist following your treatment plan, patients with moderate to severe leakage may be eligible for continence pads on the NHS. The NHS will not provide pads whilst you are following your treatment plan so you will have to purchase your own and the team will be able offer advice on where to purchase these products. Continence pads are prescription items that must be used with the same care as any medication and only used for the person they are prescribed for. Registered health care professionals such as community nurses can authorise up to four pads per day. If you require more than four pads or a non-formulary product then assessment is required by the continence service.

We value feedback from all of our patients. You may be asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire after your appointment or you may receive one through the post to complete.