Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

You are here:

Good practice in continence services

  • Document type:
    Guidance
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    19 April 2000
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals,Nurses/midwives/health visitors,Care services,Carers
  • Product number:
    21133
  • Gateway reference:
    not required
  • Pages:
    44
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown Copyright

Prompt, high quality, comprehensive continence services are an essential part of the NHS. Incontinence is a treatable condition. But in 1999 the Audit Commission reported that "In practice district nurses implement a conservative care plan focused on managing the problem rather than treating the underlying cause". Children, young mothers, people with learning or physical disabilities and older people all experience problems with bladder and bowel management, and sometimes, both. In some situations as many as 1 in 7 women aged 45 - 64 living at home may have problems with incontinence.

Additional links

Ordering publications

Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.

Help viewing PDFs

Help viewing PDFs

Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.

Additional Links

Access keys