North Manchester Bladder and Bowel Service vision is to provide a high quality, evidence-based care, effective, equitable and accessible for patients with bladder and bowel problems, regardless of aetiology. That ensures the best possible experience for the service users whilst in our care and an improved, positive, and sustainable outcome in relation to their clinical needs, quality of life, health and well-being. The service aims to reduce unnecessary consultant referrals and treat people in primary care where appropriate.

The service offers specialist nurse-led assessment and treatment for people with bladder (lower urinary tract) or bowel problems. Anyone registered with a North Manchester GP, age 16 years or over who is experiencing bladder or bowel issues will be seen either at home or in a nurse-led clinic setting by the Bladder and Bowel Service.

People who do not have a North Manchester GP or children under the age of 16 will not be seen by the Bladder & Bowel Service.

Care delivered in the Bladder & Bowel Service includes

• Management and support of new and existing post-op stoma patients, including Stoma granuloma silver nitrate treatment and stoma Irrigation
• new and existing patients who have an indwelling urinary catheter
• Community Trial Without Catheter (TWOC)
• Assessment of patients experiencing continence issues and ongoing support
• Sheath assessment and sheath fitting
• Assessment and commencement of patients requiring Intermittent self-catheterisation
• Assessment and teaching for patients requiring Bowel Irrigation
• Assess and treat male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) excluding prostate assessments
• Assessment of patients experiencing Faecal incontinence/ constipation (where underlying pathology has been excluded)

Exclusion:

• Patients with obstructive symptoms should be refer to consultant
• Suspected malignancy
• Haematuria (in absence of UTI)
• Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Patient under 16s
• Significant symptomatic prolapse in female
• Voiding dysfunction and/or significant post-void residual
• Unexplained rectal bleeding or altered bowel habit
• Male patients >40 years will only been seen if DRE and PSA have excluded prostate problems

Various nurse-led clinics are delivered in the North Manchester area (continence/stoma/catheter, stoma hernia support, prescription), and home visits. If people are housebound or in a residential home, they may be referred to the District Nursing Service for assessment.

the service provides a continence promotion and advisory service to MFT to ensure patients’ continence needs are identified at the point of care, to ensure treatment is initiated where possible, and that patients are safely discharged to reduce continence-related re-admissions.

The service also provides:

• Continence product reviews
• Support and education for carers and other healthcare professionals
• Specialist support/training for community health care workers
• Patient focused training for health care workers in the community.
• Staff training for MFT staff including Bladder care, Catheterisation and Bowel Care.

Any patient with a bladder or bowel related nursing need can be referred to the service and will be seen either in a clinic setting or at home. Patients can self-refer, and referrals are accepted from GP’s, District Nursing Services, secondary care and specialist services. We accept referrals from healthcare professionals via the service generic email mft.contience-stoma-prescription-service@nhs.net

Self-referrals can be made via telephone (0161 470 6686) or by filling the referral form below.

All referrals to the service are triaged on entry to the service, inappropriate referrals will be rejected or re-directed, and the referrer will be informed.

Referral Form [Word doc, 143KB]

Please bring a sample of urine and a list of current medication, including over the counter medication.

Please complete and bring the below charts to the initial appointment.

BABS Bladder Chart [PDF, 276KB]
BABS Bowel Chart [PDF, 84KB]

Patients are not eligible for NHS supply of absorbent products (continence pads) whilst awaiting/undergoing investigation/treatment for incontinence in primary, Tier 2 or secondary care.

If an interpreter required, this must be identified in the referral form and professional interpreter will be provided by the service.