Continence Service

Northamptonshire Continence Advisory Service (NCAS) is a specialist nurse-led team for adults of all ages providing quality assessment, treatment and management of bladder and bowel problems that impact on the quality of everyday life.

Overview
Directions
How do I register for this service?
Contacting us and opening hours
Accessibility information

Type

Adult Services - Continence Service

Northamptonshire Continence Advisory Service (NCAS) is a specialist nurse-led team for adults over the age of 18 providing quality assessment, treatment and management of bladder and bowel problems that impact on the quality of everyday life.

Bladder and bowel problems are common and, in most cases, treatable, but they are poorly understood. Our specialist skilled team feel passionate about the need for clinical assessment and personalised care planning, with dignity in care being at the heart of this confidential service.

Our service is open to anybody registered with a GP in Northamptonshire with the ability to get to a clinic appointment at various locations across the county although housebound patients can be referred to the District Nurses for a continence assessment.

Who is this service for? Adults over the age of 18 needing help to manage bowel and bladder symptoms.

Address

Manfield Court, Kettering Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN3 6NP

Map

Lock/unlock map

How do I register for this service?

Patients can self-refer into the continence advisory service by contacting the Single Point of Access on 0300 777 0002 referrals are also accepted via email on northamptonshire.spoa@nhft.nhs.uk

All patients will need to complete a screening questionnaire to allow the referral to be actioned appropriately.

For professionals: Please ensure any patients requesting a referral have had a urine specimen checked with their GP surgery in line with NICE guidelines.

Contacting us and opening hours

NCAS
Manfield Court
Manfield Hospital
Kettering Rd
Northampton
NN3 6NP

Telephone: 0300 027 1360

Email: ncas@nhft.nhs.uk

Monday to Friday: 9am to 3pm

Please note we are closed on bank holidays.

Accessibility information

Disabled access guide can be viewed for this locations here.

Information for professionals
If you are professional discharging a patient from secondary care for community catheter care, please make sure:

You have shown patient how to change their leg bag and valve

You have shown the patient how to correctly attach the night bag

The patient has been sent home with at least a weeks supply of stock

The patient has registered with a delivery company or is aware of how to register to organise ongoing stock

The patient is aware of who to contact in an emergency

The patient is aware of when the catheter is next due to be changed

Please complete the catheter discharge referral form - be aware this form MUST be completed by the professional who inserted the catheter.

Catheter discharge referral form
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- Attends product training videos
  
  Attends - new product training videos:
  
  Attends Soft and Attends Contours:
  
  The Attends Soft range offers anatomically shaped pads in absorbency levels 0 - 7 for light to heavy urinary incontinence, while the Contours range provides levels 4 - 10 formoderate to heavy urinary and/or faecal incontinence.
  
  Attends Slip Regular
  
  The Attends Slip Regular range of anatomically shaped pads is available in absorbency levels 8, 9 and 10, and is specially designed to manage heavy urinary and/or faecal incontinence.
  
  Attends Slip Active
  
  The Slip Active range of anatomically shaped pads is available in absorbency levels 8, 9 and 10, and is specially designed to manage heavy urinary and/or faecal incontinence.
  
  Attends product demonstration
  
  Discover more about the core technology within our complete range of continence products and learn how this technology helps to keep an individual's skin clean and dry.
  
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Information for care homes and agencies
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- Referral process for care homes
  
  To refer a resident to our Continence Service, please complete this form:
  
  Care home continence patient referral form
  
  This is electronic referral form and is the sole referral pathway for our service for all care homes in Northamptonshire.
  
  Some guidelines:
  
  Please read the instructions
  
  Please be prepared before completing the form
  
  Make sure you have baseline charts completed and saved (keep blank copies within easy access)
  
  Baseline charts need to be accurate
  
  We suggest only one or two trained / competent staff complete referrals for your care home
  
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  Updates to the referral process
  
  From February 2025 there are some changes to the look of the form, but essentially the same information is requested.
  
  You will now need to provide an email address for your care home, we suggest you use a generic email address if possible
  
  Referral will not be actioned until all the parts of the form are complete (for example, baseline charts)
  
  It is mandatory to attach the 3 baseline charts to the form, in the approved format as a PDF - not a scan or photograph
  
  There is a 'Save Progress' option - this allows you to pause and go back to a referral when you need to. When you 'Save Progress' you will get a reference number E mailed back to you, which will allow you to search for that form and at a complete it at a later date. When you go back into the form, you will get a verification code emailed to the address on the form, that will allow you to re-enter the form. You have a maximum of 2 weeks to complete the form
  
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- Referral process for agencies
  
  It's important that we understand whether is this a new incontinence patient or a re-assessment for patients already recieving products.
  
  A referral can be made directly by the patient, family or carers by contacting the Single Point of Access on 0300 777 0002 referrals are also accepted via email on northamptonshire.spoa@nhft.nhs.uk.
  
  All patients will need to complete a screening questionnaire to allow the referral to be actioned appropriately.
  
  If this is a reassessment, you can call for advice and we will need to know what the problem is with the current products. Is it an issue with absorbency, size or shape?
  
  Our preference is to speak to someone from your care team.
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- Additional information for care homes
  
  Half day training sessions are available throughout the year, please contact the team for dates and booking advice on 0300 0271360
  
  Most care homes are on a 12 week delivery cycle
  
  Fixation pants are delivered in a pack of 15 pairs every 48 weeks
  
  Please note there is no adhoc delivery process now, except in very exceptional circumstances (for example, End of Life Care or Trial Without Catheter (TWOC))
  
  When admitting a new resident:
  
  Ensure you have thoroughly assessed their continence needs before admission
  
  Are they having deliveries at home? If so, ask the family not to discharge them from Home Delivery Service (HDS) until you have submitted their assessment to us and are getting the first delivery
  
  Are they coming from another care home? If so, make sure any products that they have are transferred with them, the products belong to the patient, not the care home
  
  When submitting referrals be mindful of when your delivery is due, try not to submit referrals close to your next delivery date, as it may not be processed in time and you may need to wait another 12 weeks
  
  Please note it is the care home's responsibility to ensure any residents' continence needs are met until NHS products are supplied. We are not an emergency service
  
  Useful resource
  
  Management of a urethral catheter (catheter care information) - The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS)
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- Attends product training videos
  
  Attends - new product training videos:
  
  Attends Soft and Attends Contours:
  
  The Attends Soft range offers anatomically shaped pads in absorbency levels 0 - 7 for light to heavy urinary incontinence, while the Contours range provides levels 4 - 10 formoderate to heavy urinary and/or faecal incontinence.
  
  Attends Slip Regular
  
  The Attends Slip Regular range of anatomically shaped pads is available in absorbency levels 8, 9 and 10, and is specially designed to manage heavy urinary and/or faecal incontinence.
  
  Attends Slip Active
  
  The Slip Active range of anatomically shaped pads is available in absorbency levels 8, 9 and 10, and is specially designed to manage heavy urinary and/or faecal incontinence.
  
  Attends product demonstration
  
  Discover more about the core technology within our complete range of continence products and learn how this technology helps to keep an individual's skin clean and dry.
  
  Back up
Information for you
You can find some useful resources and guidance below:

Treatment options for overactive bladder (OAB) - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)

Bladder training - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)

Bowel habits and constipation - Bladder and Bowel Community

Diverticulosis, diverticular disease, diverticulitis health advice - Patient/ Navigate Health Ltd

Drinking advice for a healthy bladder - Bladder and Bowel Community

Why is fibre important? - British Dietetic Association (BDA)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diet - British Dietetic Association (BDA)

A guide to double voiding and bladder-emptying techniques - Medical News Today

Lichen Sclerosus in females - British Association of Dermatology (BAD)

Nocturnal polyuria (passing too much urine at night) - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)

Pelvic floor exercises in men - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)

NHFT Pelvic Floor Exercises - an Introduction [pdf] 395KB

NHFT Pelvic Floor Breathing Exercises Leaflet [pdf] 268KB

NHFT What to expect on your visit for a pelvic floor check [pdf] 187KB

Urogenital problems, information for women - Women's Health Concern

Useful apps

CONfidence app- Free self-help app for bladder or bowel leakage

Squeezy app- Empowers you with knowledge and tools to take control of your pelvic health

Useful videos:

Natural constipation relief in 3 easy steps

How to do pelvic floor exercise
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- What to expect at your continence assessment
  
  Throughout your assessment you will be asked a number of questions. Not all of these questions may seem relevant to your issues, but they help the nurse build a better picture of your concerns and current situation. These questions will include information about your social circumstances and how often you are affected by your continence. This will also help the nurse identify if you are displaying any symptoms which may need investigating by another professional (for example your GP or a urologist). Your nurse will always discuss these referrals with you first. Following your initial assessment, you may need to come and see one of our nurses in our face-to-face clinics for a more detailed assessment, including a check of your pelvic floor. We offer a number of clinics around the county and your nurse will discuss with you which is the most appropriate clinic for you.
  
  Your initial assessment
  Your initial continence assessment will be conducted over the telephone by one of our specialist nurses. Please note, this assessment can take 45 to 60 minutes to complete and you will need to be somewhere private in order for our nurse to complete this. If you need someone else to complete the assessment on your behalf they will need to be with you for this.
  
  Can't have the assessment over the phone?
  If you struggle to hear over the phone and need your initial assessment to be face to face, please call the office for this to be arranged.
  
  What happens while you wait for your assessment?
  
  Continence products - You will be expected to purchase your own continence products while you wait for your initial assessment. A range of products are available to buy from supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
  
  Will I receive products on the NHS? Just because you have a continence assessment completed does not necessarily mean you will be provided with products on the NHS. Our products are provided in line with national guidance and based on individual need. You will be supplied with any products which are clinically suitable for you and this will be explained to you further by your nurse throughout your assessment and any follow-up appointments.
  
  Why baseline?
  You will have been sent baseline charts for you to complete before your assessment. Please try to complete these to the best of your ability as they will help your nurse understand your issues in more detail.
  
  Why do I need an assessment?
  
  Continence issues are usually curable once the underlying cause has been found. Contrary to popular opinion, incontinence is not a side-effect of getting old and can affect people of all ages. An assessment can help improve your symptoms.
  
  What treatment can I expect?
  
  Your nurse will work with you to create a plan for your care. Our main focus is to consider treatment options which should help improve or cure your continence issues. This may be through pelvic floor exercises, bladder retraining or considering different food and fluid intakes. Patterns for what may be causing your continence issues can sometimes be identified from your baseline charts, which is why it is so important you complete these and send them back to us.
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- Information about continence products
  
  We want to make sure you have the right information about continence products before your assessment with our service.
  
  Before your assessment
  
  You will need to buy your own continence products until the date of your initial assessment. This applies to everyone, with no exceptions.
  
  You can use the Bladder and Bowel CONfidence app to help you choose suitable products while self purchasing.
  
  During and after your assessment
  
  Continence products are provided only when there is a clinical need. Having an assessment does not automatically mean products will be supplied.
  
  Products are issued based on clinical suitability, not personal preference or style.
  
  What the service can provide
  
  A maximum of 4 products per 24 hours can be supplied. This includes 1 product for night time use.
  
  NHFT supplies products from the Attends range. If you receive products from us, they will be from this brand, even if you currently use something different.
  
  Your product provision may change if your clinical needs change.
  
  All decisions follow NHS guidelines for continence product provision.
  
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Information for relatives and carers
If you have a relative who has recently moved into a residential home within Northamptonshire, then they will need to complete a care home referral form for us to supply them with products. This can be done online and will be reviewed by a member of the continence advisory service.

Our expectation is that residential homes will supply products to your relative while they are waiting for products from us. However, we are aware that each residential home has different policies and this will depend on the individual home.

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- Useful resources and links
  
  You can find some useful resources and guidance below:
  
  Treatment options for overactive bladder (OAB) - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)
  
  Bladder training - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)
  
  Bowel habits and constipation - Bladder and Bowel Community
  
  Diverticulosis, diverticular disease, diverticulitis health advice - Patient/ Navigate Health Ltd
  
  Drinking advice for a healthy bladder - Bladder and Bowel Community
  
  Why is fibre important? - British Dietetic Association (BDA)
  
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diet - British Dietetic Association (BDA)
  
  A guide to double voiding and bladder-emptying techniques - Medical News Today
  
  Lichen Sclerosus in females - British Association of Dermatology (BAD)
  
  Nocturnal polyuria (passing too much urine at night) - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)
  
  Pelvic floor exercises in men - British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited (BAUS)
  
  NHFT Pelvic Floor Exercises - an Introduction [pdf] 395KB
  
  NHFT Pelvic Floor Breathing Exercises Leaflet [pdf] 268KB
  
  NHFT What to expect on your visit for a pelvic floor check [pdf] 187KB
  
  Urogenital problems, information for women - Women's Health Concern
  
  Useful app
  
  Continence product selector- Continence product advice for users, carers and healthcare professionals
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Continence Service

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Community healthcare services - adults