General Health
Turning continence care from taboo to dignity
Thanks to people speaking up and Healthwatch action, bladder and bowel healthcare is improving
Continence care is something many people find difficult to talk about, yet it affects thousands of individuals and families across North Yorkshire.
When people cannot access the right support, it has a serious impact on daily life, confidence, and long-term health.
We listened to people who shared their experiences of trying to get help with bladder and bowel needs.
Their stories show how important it is to treat continence care with dignity and understanding
Why continence care matters
14 million people in the UK live with bladder problems
6.5 million people live with bowel problems
Many people feel unable to ask for help because of stigma
It affects people of all ages and genders
Speaking up leads to real improvements in local services
Since publishing our report, “It’s time to talk continence”, in 2023 and sharing what people told us, we have seen important steps begin to take shape.
Services have started to look at how they assess continence needs, how information is shared, and how people are directed to the right support.
These changes are happening because individuals spoke up about their experiences and highlighted where things were not working.
Learn how we’ve made a difference?
Read the original report here
What Next....
We will continue to keep this conversation going and make sure people’s voices remain at the centre of this work.
By shining a light on continence care, we hope to help more people feel confident in seeking the support they deserve and ensure dignity is upheld at every stage.
As this work moves forward, here is what will happen next:
We will keep working with services to support meaningful improvements
We will continue to share people’s experiences so their voices guide future decisions
We will update you on progress as this work develops
People can still tell us about their experiences at any time