title: Minimum standards for continence care in the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports on the publication of a joint statement on minimum standards for continence care in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multidisciplinary working party were tasked with creating standards for both training and education in continence care, as well as explicit standards for a framework of service delivery. This was done through a process of extensive consultation with relevant professional bodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The standards suggest a modular structure to continence training, including basic, male, female, catheter care etc. Discussions on service provision cover primary care through to expert tertiary centres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first attempt to standardise continence care and training for all health care professionals nationally. The document is available on the United Kingdom Continence Society website www.ukcs.uk.net.
authors.affiliation: Lead Nurse Urogynaecology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rantell
authors.affiliation: Consultant Gynaecologist and Subspecialist in Urogynaecology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.affiliation: Lead Nurse Bladder and Bowel service, Haringey, Whittington Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.affiliation: Principal Physiotherapist, Women's Health/Urodynamics, Airedale General Hospital, West Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Consultant Urogynaecologist, Bradford Royal Infirmary, West Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramage
authors.affiliation: Consultant Urogynaecologist, Birmingham Women's Hospital, West Midlands, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toozs-Hobson
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000592:standards*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: continence care; joint statement; national guidelines; service delivery; training and education