Partnership work to empower local carers

Through our engagement with local carers who attend the Essence Service we heard that they had a lack of understanding about the Community Incontinence Service, with some stating that although their loved one experiences incontinence as part of their dementia, they didn’t know that such a service is available.  The majority of carers had been buying incontinence products, either locally or online, without knowing if they were appropriate and fit for purpose.

Using our local knowledge and professional relationships within South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) we contacted the STSFT Bladder and Bowel Service and invited them along to the Essence Service, alongside one of your Engagement Officers, to speak to two of their carers groups, one which offers peer support to men looking after their wives and the other which offers the same support to women who are looking after their husbands. 

The sessions were a great success, with nurses from the service telling the carers how to refer to access support for incontinence, and other issues associated with the bladder and the bowel.  They showed some of the different products available to patients with incontinence, which once the referral to the service has been made, can be accessed on the NHS free of charge. 

The majority of the male carers highlighted that their wives prefer using pull-up incontinence products as they are more like underwear and are easier for their wives to keep their independence and dignity when getting dressed and using the bathroom.  Although the nurses stated that there are disadvantages to skin health when using pull-ups, they would take this feedback to their Managers for consideration as they are currently unavailable on the NHS through their service.

The nurses then highlighted the importance of patients with incontinence being professionally assessed to ensure they are using the correct products, as using the incorrect ones can cause damage to the skin and infection resulting in pain and discomfort to the patient. 

Both carers groups were really open to the conversations and asked lots of questions to really get the most out of the visits from the nurses. 

One carer said; 

“Thank you so much for coming along today.  Although I don’t need to refer into your service yet, it is good to know what you can offer.”

Another said;

 “Thank you to Healthwatch for arranging this session.  We have leant so much today and I am definitely going to refer my wife to make sure we are using the most appropriate products.”