title: Improving access to continence services: action in Walsall.
abstract: New government guidelines state that primary care trusts should be moving towards an integrated continence service. In Walsall a study was undertaken to inform the development of care pathways and to support a move to a single specialist continence service. The study looked at accessibility to services, and the opinions of patients (suffering from urinary incontinence), and professionals about the two existing specialist continence services. Over a period of approximately 3 months primary care staff, particularly GPs and practice nurses, and patients filled in questionnaires. Overall the primary care team and patients were satisfied with the help they had received from the current services. The study identified a need to raise awareness and provide more information about incontinence and the services available. There is also an opportunity to get practice nurses more involved in the management of incontinence. The recommendations of this study have been incorporated into the changes being made to the local service.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Medicine, Walsall Primary Care Trust.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linnane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D013222:State Medicine / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*