Life with incontinence made easier by BCH’s caring team

News

For people living with incontinence - the inability to control our own ability to pass urine and faeces - life can be challenging and embarrassing.

However Bass Coast Health (BCH)’s Continence team is here to help.

World Continence Week from 17 to 23 June is a timely occasion to spread the word about BCH’s Continence team of three Continence Nurse Consultants: Nurse Practitioner Dianne Jones, Joanne Sawyers and Ebony Scott.

They’re able to help adults - male and female - through to children with bedwetting or constipation challenges.

Dianne said, “We have many clients with urinary catheter devices or a history of urological problems. As many of these concerns are highly sensitive, often clients want to tell their story to the nurse and want to be ‘heard’. The nurse is able to validate your concerns and provide advice on how to improve and manage.”

The team recently attended the Victorian Pelvic Pain Symposium in Melbourne, along with BCH Gynaecologist Dr Sonia Grover. The event increased awareness of pelvic pain, patient-centred care, assessment and treatment.

BCH’s Continence team consults from the Phillip Island Health Hub and Wonthaggi Hospital, and can visit people’s homes if needed.

The service is staffed Monday to Friday across the two sites. To book, phone 5671 3353. The service is free and no GP referral is needed.