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Responses > Children’s Continence Service

Freedom of Information request Children’s Continence Service

Response published: 24 November 2025
CAMHS/CYPS | Health

FOI Request

Continence care is a critical component of children’s health and wellbeing. National guidance, including the Children’s Continence Commissioning Guide and the Consensus Document for the Provision of Continence Containment Products to Children and Young People, highlights the importance of accessible, multidisciplinary services that meet assessed clinical need and promote independence. Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we would be most grateful if you could provide answers to the following questions regarding your Trust’s children’s continence and/or bladder and bowel services. We kindly request responses to the following questions: 1. Does your Trust currently provide a children’s continence and/or bladder and bowel service for individuals aged 0–19 years? (Yes/No)  If yes, please provide:  • The name of the service (if applicable).  • The age range it covers.  • The staff roles or disciplines included in the service (e.g. nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist).  • The number of staff in each role, expressed as whole-time equivalent (WTE).  • The service’s referral pathway (e.g. GP, school nurse, self-referral).  2. Has your Trust closed, reduced, or restructured any part of its children’s continence and/or bladder and bowel service within the past three years (since October 2022)? (Yes/No)  If yes, please provide:  • The date of closure or reduction.  • A brief description of what changed (e.g. staffing, eligibility criteria, service capacity).  3. How many children and young people aged 0–19 are currently being supported by your adult continence service for pad provision? Please provide the number of individuals currently recorded in this category.  4. What is the average waiting time (in weeks) for an initial assessment on the children’s continence service? Please provide the current number of children and young people (aged 0–19) on the waiting list for this service.  5. Does your Trust follow the relevant NICE guidelines for continence care and management? Please indicate Yes or No for each  • Children’s Continence Commissioning Guide: A handbook for the commissioning and running of children’s community continence services  • Guidance for the provision of continence containment products to children and young people - A consensus document      We appreciate your time and assistance in responding to this request and look forward to your reply within the statutory period.

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 303-2025

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:

1. Does your Trust currently provide a children’s continence and/or bladder and bowel service for individuals aged 0–19 years? (Yes/No)

Our response:

Yes

You asked:

If yes, please provide:

  • The name of the service (if applicable).
  • The age range it covers.
  • The staff roles or disciplines included in the service (e.g. nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist).
  • The number of staff in each role, expressed as whole-time equivalent (WTE).
  • The service’s referral pathway (e.g. GP, school nurse, self-referral).

Our response:

  • School Nursing
  • 4-19 years
  • School Nurses
  • Currently there are 25.34wte school nurses who cover the whole service specification of which children’s continence is a small part.
  • School Nurses can accept referrals from anyone regarding bladder and bowel needs. School Nurses will provide Level 1 care which includes initial advice in accordance with NICE CG111 and CG99, assessment and guidance for bed wetting alarms and desmopressin. If desmopressin is required the child is referred to the GP for prescription. School Nurses are guided by 4 pathways; nocturnal enuresis, constipation, day wetting and toilet training, which are followed by school nurses, GPs and specialist paediatric bladder and bowel service. These pathways typically require the school nurse to work with the child for 3-6 months then refer on to specialist team.

You asked:

2. Has your Trust closed, reduced, or restructured any part of its children’s continence and/or bladder and bowel service within the past three years (since October 2022)? (Yes/No)

Our response:

No. School nurses are planning a digital first offer for constipation which will include an abdominal exam by a GP and guidance for parents on the SN website, including how to use macrogols. Any family who are unable to access the digital offer or who are requiring further support can self-refer to school nurse or GP can make a referral on their behalf.

You asked:

3. How many children and young people aged 0–19 are currently being supported by your adult continence service for pad provision? Please provide the number of individuals currently recorded in this category.

Our response:

School Nurses do not provide pads, this is done by the specialist paediatric bladder and bowel service.

You asked:

4. What is the average waiting time (in weeks) for an initial assessment on the children’s continence service? Please provide the current number of children and young people (aged 0–19) on the waiting list for this service.

Our response:

The school nursing service currently has 175 children open who have been sent a continence pack in the post with initial advice and request to complete fluid and bowel charts required before an assessment can be completed. Of these children, 24 are currently waiting for an assessment following return of bladder and bowel charts.

You asked:

5. Does your Trust follow the relevant NICE guidelines for continence care and management? Please indicate Yes or No for each

  • Children’s Continence Commissioning Guide: A handbook for the commissioning and running of children’s community continence services
  • Guidance for the provision of continence containment products to children and young people – A consensus document

Our response:

Yes to both.

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.