Once your referral has been triaged you will receive an assessment appointment. Assessment may include one or more of the following depending on need identified:
- an initial group education session, potentially followed up with
- a clinic appointment
- a nursery or school visit
At your appointment a specialist nurse will take a medical history and ask questions about your concerns. Information will be taken relating to fluid intake and toileting habits of both the bladder and bowels to give an accurate history. This will include daytime and night-time habits to give an accurate history. The assessment will give the nurse an insight into how best to manage the symptoms and develop a programme of care. It is essential that you bring the assessment charts to every appointment.
The nurse:
- Will undertake physical examinations where appropriate. This may include abdominal examinations and bladder scans. Urine and stool specimens may be required to reach a diagnosis or explore differential diagnosis.
- Will provide health promotion advice and individualised information and update treatment plans and medications in order to achieve healthy bladder and bowel habits.
- May prescribe continence aids to assist the condition(s) or may prescribe disposable containment products those who have a neuropathic bladder/bowel condition.
- May prescribe disposable containment products for children and young people over 5 years old who have an underlying medical reason for not being able to attain continence. An individualised toilet skills programme must have been followed for 6 months without improvement. If disposable containment prescriptions are required, these will be reviewed annually as a minimum, along with the toileting skills programme. This is to check on the child or young person’s development and ensure the appropriateness of disposable containment products before the prescription continues.
Further appointments can be either face to face or telephone appointments. Referral to other Health and Social Services can be supported if appropriate. There may be a need to refer on to a Paediatrician for further treatment, or possibly referred back to the care of the Health Visitor / School Nurse for ongoing care.
Our clinics and groups are held at:
Dunston Health Centre, Dunston Bank, Dunston, Gateshead, NE11 9PY
What you can expect from us:
Individualised, evidence based care with the child and family at the centre of everything we do.
Continued support and medication advice when contacted by yourself or other professionals supporting your child.
What we expect from you:
In order for the child / young person to get the maximum benefit and the best possible outcomes, it is essential that the treatment programme and advice are followed.
The key to success is following the plans beyond the appointment, and into everyday life.