Community Paediatric Continence Service
About us
We are a nurse led service trained in the assessment and management of children who have:
- Daytime wetting
- Night time wetting
- Constipation and Soiling
Prior to the referral being accepted into the service first line intervention via the Health Visitor/school nursing service would have been sought.
We are based at St David’s Hospital on Cowbridge Road East (Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9XB).
Telephone: 02921 836836.
Email: Childrenscontinence.enquiries.cav@wales.nhs.uk
But we run clinics in St David’s Children Centre, Cowbridge Health Centre, Rumney Primary Health Care, Llandough Children’s Centre, Maelfa Well-Being Hub.
Three-day input/output charts are required before an initial assessment is appointed.
The first appointment will be via telephone:
- The nurse will assess the child’s continence needs.
- The nurse may request additional information from symptom diaries or investigations. The nurse will explain what is needed at the appointment and answer any questions you may have.
- The nurse will give advice to suit your child. This will include, advice about drinks, diet or sleep (including alarm therapy for bedwetting), or advice about medication, bladder scanning, TENS treatment.
Follow-up appointments will be in a clinic setting or via the telephone.
You will only have an appointment with a doctor if:
- Your child is not getting better even though you are following advice
What we expect from you:
- Please be polite to our staff and treat them with respect
- Please complete the symptom diaries and have them available for telephone and clinic appointments – this will help us to give you the best advice.
- We ask you to help us by following the advice given to you. Tell us as soon as you can if this is too difficult.
- Please attend appointments on time.
- Please answer the telephone when we call during a telephone clinic. Calls will be from a ‘Private Number’
- Please cancel appointments with 48 hours’ notice – this means we can then offer the appointment to another child
- Please tell us if:
- You move house
- You change your telephone number
- Your child changes school
Discharge Policy
We aim to help as many children as possible to become completely clean and dry. This might not be possible for all children.
- We will discharge children from the service when the child is as continent as he or she can be, non-engagement, treatment complete or any other service is thought to be more suitable.
- Some children will continue to need some medication from the GP
If you cancel two appointments in a row we will discharge the child from the service.
If you do not bring the child to a clinic appointment without cancelling, we will discharge the child from the service
After discharge from the service, a new referral will be required if additional help is needed.
Help us to get it right:
We like getting feedback on the service that we offer.
You can make suggestions or comments by
- speaking to a member of staff, or
- by contacting the Health Board here
How to access
The service currently accepts referrals from GP’s and Paediatricians. Initial level one healthy bladder and bowel to be sought in the first instance via their named health visitor if under 5yrs or school nursing service.
Useful links:
ERIC - The Children's Bowel and Bladder Charity
Information for parents and careers, healthcare professionals and early year and education professionals about children and young people with a bowel or bladder condition.
Tel: 0845 3709009
Website: www.eric.org.uk
Bladder and Bowel UK
Advice and information on all bladder and bowel issues in children and young people including those with additional needs.
Website: www.bbuk.org.uk/children-young-people/
Tel: 0161 6078219
NICE Guidelines
Management of Bedwetting in children and young people https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg111
Constipation in children and young people: diagnosis and management https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg99
Health Visiting Service
Website: Here
School Nursing Service
Website: Here
Parentline - Website: Here
(Updated January 2024)
Return to Children, Young People and Family Health Services