Who we are
We are a team of Bladder and Bowel Specialist Nurses, Pelvic Health Physiotherapists and Assistant Practitioners with expertise in the care and treatment of bladder, bowel and pelvic health conditions, including pelvic floor dysfunction, continence and incontinence support. We are supported by our administrative team. We offer a service to clients in Ashford, Canterbury and Coastal, South Kent Coast, Thanet and west Kent areas.
Some of the problems we aim to treat are:
stress urinary incontinence - leaking urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze or with exertion, for example, walking or running
urgency - the feeling of urgently wanting to go to the toilet that is difficult to put off
urge urinary incontinence - urgently wanting to go to the toilet and then leaking urine before you get there
frequency - needing to go to the toilet more than six to eight times over a 24 hour period
overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome - urgency and frequency, with or without incontinence (urine leakage)
recurrent urine infections
appliances - we can assist with appliances/fitting of appliances
prolapse - this is the dropping down of one of your pelvic organs causing a feeling of heaviness or a bulge from the vagina or back passage
faecal urgency - problem of needing to open your bowels without much warning
constipation - hard stools, infrequent opening of your bowels, the feeling of straining, and sometimes feeling like you can’t completely empty your bowels
faecal incontinence - this is an inability to control wind or stool resulting in leakage - this can also be associated with urgency
problems following a prostatectomy - after having this procedure the pelvic floor musculature and nerve supply can affect urinary leakage, anal incontinence, erectile dysfunction.
What we do
We provide information, support and professional advice to clients, healthcare practitioners and carers in order to maximize the quality of life for patients. We believe everyone has the right to be continent and have access to the highest standards of care; where symptoms cannot be treated they can often still be improved.
Our Bladder and Bowel Specialist Nurses carry out assessments, urinalysis, bladder scanning, support with medication, anal irrigation, and self-catheterisation and review of treatment for obstructed defaecation (constipation). They also carry out physical pelvic floor assessment where appropriate. Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapists treat incontinence and gynaecological dysfunction and post-natal perineal tears, pelvic organ prolapse, post-prostatectomy incontinence, Faecal incontinence and constipation, as well as treating pelvic/vaginal/perineal pain. We use techniques such as physiotherapy exercises, lifestyle advice, biofeedback and electrotherapy.
If you meet the referral criteria, you will be invited to attend an Education session if appropriate to your condition, and will be offered a follow up appointment as required after this. In certain situations, you will be offered an individual appointment with either the Nurse or Physiotherapist in the first instance.
If you do not meet the criteria we may make onward referrals to other services or providers to support you further.
Urinalysis
This is where we test your urine to make sure there are no problems that might be causing your bladder problems such as infection or diabetes.
Bladder scan
This is an ultrasound scan of your bladder to make sure that it is emptying properly.
Bladder diary
This can be useful to fill out to find out how much you are drinking and how often you pass urine. If you have an appointment fill this out before you get there and bring it with you. It is suggested you complete 3 days to get the most accurate information, ideally a mix of home and work days.
Tip: Buy a plastic measuring jug and urinate into this to get an accurate measure of how much your bladder can hold. Record this on the diary. Also measure your favourite cup or mug then you won’t have to keep measuring your drinks.