Carers influencing change
In September 2024 we invited nurses from the South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) Bladder and Bowel Service to speak to local carers at the Essence Service in Doxford Park about their service and how they can support their loved ones with incontinence.
During the male carers session, the gentleman shared that they felt the products available from the Bladder and Bowel Service were undignified and didn’t promote their wives' independence. Many of the men shared that they currently buy pull-up products for their wives as they feel these are more appropriate.
The nurses informed the group that pull-up products were not available for the service to prescribe to people with dementia, but that they would take the men’s feedback and concerns back to their service managers and let the group know the outcome of this.
And so, they did, with a fabulous outcome!
On the 13th November the nurses revisited the Essence Service male carers group to share that the Bladder and Bowel Service have listened to their concerns about their wives' dignity and independence and, if deemed to be appropriate after an assessment, can now prescribe pull-up products.
The gentlemen were delighted with this outcome and thanked the nurses for listening to them and facilitating such positive change, not only for their wives but for others accessing the Bladder and Bowel Service in the future.
What difference did this make?
Through our partnership work and the open discussions local carers are willing to have with us and service representatives, positive change has been made. This particular change will have such a big impact on the lives of people with dementia and their carers who now have choices with regards to the incontinence products they can access through the STSFT Bladder and Bowel Service. The addition of pull-up products on the prescribing list at the service ensures a person’s dignity is preserved and they can remain as independent as they can, for as long as they can when it comes to their continence.
