Continence: why is such a serious issue so often overlooked?

A team of nurses is working to break the taboo around potentially life-threatening conditions

• Potential consequences of bladder and bowel problems include sepsis, infection, respiratory and cardiac issues and social isolation
• Patients are often unaware that services or resources exist, outside of continence pads
• Specialist team says all nurses can help dispel embarrassment and assess patients based on the individual's 'normal'

When Sharon Holroyd wants to get across the importance of good continence care, she tells the story of one particular patient, a woman in her thirties with a young family and a degenerative spinal condition.

‘She was unable to walk her children to school because she was afraid of leaking,’ explains Ms Holroyd. ‘She began to put