Conditions of the bladder and bowel are common but many patients are too embarrassed to discuss them with nursing staff – find out how you can ease any concerns

Bladder and bowel difficulties are common – yet fewer than four in ten patients ask for help when they need it, says the RCN .

Nurses can play a key role in supporting patients to seek timely advice. Here is what you need to know.

What is the anatomy and function of a healthy bladder and bowel?

The bladder is a hollow, muscular balloon-shaped organ , located in the pelvis and connected to the kidneys by two tubes called ureters.

Each day,