An innovative new service is being launched by Sirona to tackle a hidden condition which often causes embarrassment for sufferers.
The Bladder and Bowel Service – to be known as BABS – launched on 1st October to replace the previous Continence Service in Bath and North East Somerset.
It will see specialist nurses and therapists working in the community to tackle the issue known to affect hundreds every year.
The plan over the next 12 months is to develop an enhanced nurse-led service working closely with consultants at Bath’s Royal United Hospital.
Jenny Theed, Sirona’s Director of Operations said: “We are going to be offering a new service that focuses on the promotion of continence rather than just manage incontinence.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the RUH which means we will be able to provide joint clinics, share expertise and make sure the service is tailored to the needs of individuals.
“We will be extending the hours available for clinics, including evenings, to make sure it is as accessible as possible and we will be recruiting new staff to help us, including qualified nurses and a physiotherapist specialising in this area.
“This is not all going to happen on day one but over the next year, people should see a huge improvement in the service that is being offered and we will be using our BABS specialists to train others who care for those with bladder or bowel problems meaning we can support more people.
“Currently the service sees just under 650 people a year but we are expecting numbers to increase to around 1,000 as we raise awareness about the condition.
“We want to tackle the stigma which surrounds continence; it is a hidden condition and many people do not go for help because they are embarrassed. Our aim is to show people that it is a condition for which there is help and it can be managed.
“There are currently a significant number of people referred to the RUH with symptoms that can be managed in a community setting.
“By working closely with the RUH and with local GPs we aim to bring the service closer to where people live and free up the Consultants’ time to focus on the more severe cases where their expertise is most needed.
Sirona has been awarded a three year contract to run the service in partnership with the RUH by the Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (BaNES CCG).
Dr Ian Orpen, Clinical Chair of BaNES CCG said: “The CCG is responsible for spending the local NHS budget wisely to deliver better quality services for our patients.
“We are delighted that Sirona, together with the RUH, will be delivering this improved service across the BaNES area and the CCG will be monitoring their performance closely to ensure that the new service delivers the benefits to patients that we are expecting to see.”
