NICE Guideline on Faecal Incontinence

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a Guideline on faecal incontinence at the end of June. The Continence Foundation has been closely involved in the development of this guideline, with its Director, Dr. Judith Wardle as a member of the guideline development group and also contibuting to the writing of the public version of the text. She has also had input to the "implementation" tools for Primary Care Trusts and other professionals which NICE will issue some time in September. To find the various versions of the Guidance on the NICE website click here.

The Foundation welcomed this guideline in a press release issued on the day the guideline was published but expressed concern that it would attract little interest because of the embarassment felt about the subject by professionals as well as potential patients. We also welcomed the emphasis on trying "conservative" treatments before moving onto more specialist assessment and treatment, and the insistence that health professionals should have the relevant training -- important in the current climate of retrictions on training budgets -- and should work within integrated continence services: a subject that has been a central tenet of campaigning for the Foundation ever since the Departmental guidance recommended integrated services in 2000.

To try to increase the awareness of this important subject and of the Guideline, the Continence Foundation is running a conference for professionals on October 10th in London. More details on the conferences section of this website.

Derby City Continence Team Wins Continence Foundation Award

Derby City PCT Continence Advisory Service has won the Foundation’s ‘Best Local Campaign’ award for its work during last year’s Continence Awareness Week.

The Foundation’s judges commended lead Continence Nurse Specialist Denise Sanderson and her clinical and nursing staff for their outstanding contribution. They organised a week-long programme of publicity events at two health centres, two hospitals and a local branch of Boots.

“We are delighted to receive this award from the Continence Foundation, as its annual campaign is a reflection of the ongoing efforts of the team to raise public awareness,” said Denise. “Many people believe that continence problems cannot be helped, when, with correct intervention and advice, improvement or cure is often achievable.”

The award was presented to the team by Anne Webb, promotions manager of the award’s sponsor, Sudocrem.

The Award!

Denise Sanderson (4th from left) and her team show off their award,

flanked by Anne Webb (far left) and Ann Walker (far right) of Award sponsor Sudocrem

New Overactive Bladder medication

There has been a long wait in the UK for the new overactive bladder (OAB) drug, darifenacin (brand name in Europe Emselex®). Although a European licence was granted to Novartis in late 2004, this medication has only recently become available here: now marketed by Ardana plc. Emselex® will be a useful addition to the medications for OAB since the level of discontinuation because of adverse reactions has been reported in trials as being low. Some people need to try a number of OAB medicines before they find the one that suits them best.

Please also see conferences page

The Continence Foundation has been one of the organisations on a working party convened by the British Geriatric Society to run again for more dignity to be accorded to people in relation to toileting in care settings. A leaflet has been produced called, "Behind Closed Doors: Using the Toilet in Private". There are also check-lists for nursing and care staff, for managers, and for patients or their carers. All these may be accessed via the British Geriatrc Society website: see www.bgs.org.uk/campaigns/dignity.htm. The tools were launched at a well-attended meeting in the House of Lords on 18 April 2007, with speeches from Baroness Greengross, Baronness Hale, Professor Ian Philp and Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health.

April 2007

For information on meetings, including those for members of the public, please see the section on Conferences.