Continence Clinic for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis – Walkergate Park

Bladder and bowel problems are very common in the general population. Around 75% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) experience bladder problems and around 50% of people with MS experience bowel problems at some point (MS Trust, 2013)

• Stress incontinence
• Urge incontinence
• Overflow incontinence/difficulty passing urine
• Functional incontinence (physically unable to get to the toilet )
• Urinary retention (difficulty emptying your bladder)
• Urinary tract infections

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Incontinence

Your Consultant, General Practitioner or other Healthcare Professional has referred you to the Continence Clinic at Walkergate Park to have a continence assessment.

Treatment will be different depending on the type of problem you are experiencing. Further information regarding which type of continence problem you have will be given after a full assessment has been carried out.

You will be assessed by a Qualified Nurse and may be referred to a Doctor for examination and/or further examination.

Your first appointment will be for one hour when we will discuss the issues you are experiencing. A bladder scan may be performed and a treatment plan will be agreed between you and the healthcare professional.

If you have any concerns please ask the Doctor you see at the clinic.

It is often useful to make a list of questions prior to the clinic so you do not forget.

Your appointment card gives the time of your appointment. If this time is inconvenient please telephone the number shown on your appointment card 0191 287 5100. An alternative appointment will be made for you. Please let us know – otherwise a valuable appointment will be wasted.

Please bring a list of all current medication to your appointment.

If you don’t understand any part of this leaflet or have any further queries please contact the outpatient nurse, Outpatient Department, Walkergate Park. Tel: 0191 287 5100.

• MS Trust (2013) Managing your Bladder – A guide for people with MS
• MS Trust (2013) Managing your Bowels – A guide for people with MS

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk (click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab)
• telephone the Complaints Department 0191 245 6672
• email complaints@cntw.nhs.uk Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk
• We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.
You can provide feedback in the following ways:
– the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at
www.cntw.nhs.uk/poy
– complete a Points of You survey, available from staff.

• Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
North of Tyne Tel: 0800 032 0202 Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm
Provides information and advice about local NHS services and support organisations and helps sort out any problems with NHS services
• MS Society – National MS Helpline
Freephone: 0808 800 8000 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm
Email: helpline@mssociety.org.uk
The National Centre provides information and will be able to put you in touch with your local branch.
• MS Research and Relief Fund (Head office Ben Marr House, Morpeth)
Tel: 01670 505 829 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Complementary therapies and various exercise classes for people affected by MS. One to one fitness sessions with qualified instructors to tailor your workout for your individual needs.
Complementary therapies can be accessed at Walkergate Park
• MS Trust
Tel: 0800 0322 3839
www.mstrust.org.uk
Email: info@mstrust.org.uk
Spirella Building, Bridge Road, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 4ET
• Bladder and Bowel Community
www.bladderandbowel.org
Support, information, guidance and help for people in the UK who are living with conditions that affect their bladder or bowel.

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2022 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/115/0422 April 2022 V6
www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2024