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Specialist continence clinics

Incontinence is a symptom not a disease and it always has an underlying cause.

Many people’s quality of life can be affected by urinary (wee) or faecal (poo) incontinence.

It can affect anyone at any age; it is not just an elderly problem.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be affected by incontinence at some stage in their lives.

Caring for a relative can be made difficult when they are unable to control their bladder or bowels.

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

  • Leak urine when you cough, laugh or sneeze.
  • Go to the toilet frequently during the day or night.
  • Go to the toilet several times at night.
  • Not getting to the toilet in time.
  • Have difficulty in starting to pass urine.
  • Have problems with constipation.
  • Have bouts of diarrhoea.
  • Experience slight soiling of your underwear.

Specialist continence

We are a team of specialist nurses and we provide a variety of specialist continence treatments and advice for both men and women who have bladder or bowel problems.

You do not need to be incontinent to receive treatment and support from us. For example, you may feel that you go to the toilet too frequently, or that your lifestyle is too limited due to your bladder or bowel problems.

We offer confidential telephone advice, clinic appointments and home visits should you be housebound.

Clinics are held weekly across Doncaster.

We will see anyone from the age of 18 years old onwards, who has a registered Doncaster GP.

You can self-refer through the specialist continence service.

Initial appointment

During your initial appointment, a full continence assessment will be carried out. Much of the assessment process involves history taking.

Pelvic floor examination

We sometimes assess pelvic floor strength by doing a vaginal examination for women or a rectal examination for men. This is subject to your consent, please do not worry if you would rather not have this done, we will still be able to help.

Bladder scan

We may need to perform a scan of the bladder to ensure that the bladder is emptying properly and a urine test to highlight any abnormalities of a urinary tract infection that may be making your symptoms worse.

This is a painless procedure; ultrasound gel will be placed on your abdomen and an ultrasound probe is used to obtain a picture of your bladder onto a screen. Any residual urine is shown on the screen.

Treatments

Some of the treatments we offer include.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation

After assessment, we can offer a comprehensive treatment programme to improve pelvic floor muscle strength.

Further information and support can be found using the getUBetter app.

Bladder retraining

We retrain the bladder to “hold on” for longer, treating urgency and frequency.

Bladder emptying techniques

For those patients who are unable to empty their bladders properly, we can teach double voiding techniques or use bladder stimulators to assist the bladder to empty properly. We may also teach patients to perform self-catheterisation in order to relieve their symptoms.

Trial without catheters

A trial without catheter (TWOC) is when a catheter (the tube inserted into your bladder to drain urine) is removed from the bladder for a trial period to determine whether you are able to pass urine spontaneously.

Bowel retraining

This includes retraining the anal sphincter to enable the person to regain control of their bowels.

Anal irrigation

To manage the symptoms of constipation or faecal incontinence we may teach patients how to use anal irrigation to manage their symptoms.

What should I bring to an appointment?

Your appointment letter will include a 3-day bladder diary and a bowel chart for you or your carer to complete and bring to your appointment. You will also need to bring a list of your current medication and a fresh urine sample.

What if I am unable to attend a clinic appointment due to being housebound?

If you are housebound or are unable to attend a clinic, we do have a nurse who can visit you in your own home.

Cantley Health Centre and the White Wings Centre are open Tuesdays and Fridays.

The Vermuyden Centre is open on Mondays, and the Evergreen Unit is open Mondays and Wednesdays.

  • Cantley Health Centre

    Middleham Road
    Cantley
    Doncaster
    South Yorkshire
    DN4 6ED

  • Evergreen Unit

    Tickhill Road Site
    Tickhill Road
    Balby
    Doncaster
    DN4 8QN

  • Vermuyden Centre

    Field Side
    Thorne
    Doncaster
    DN8 1DA

  • White Wings Centre

    Spa Pool Road
    Askern
    Doncaster
    DN6 0HZ

Catheter clinic

We also offer a catheter clinic for non-housebound patients to attend to have their routine catheters changed.

Containment products

Containment products can only be provided once a continence assessment has taken place and treatment has been considered.

If you are currently purchasing your own products we would ask you to continue to do this until your continence assessment has been completed.

A pad weigh will be discussed and arranged by your nurses. This allows the nurse to assess the degree of incontinence so that we can prescribe the most appropriate product.

Further information regarding the service and our clinics is available from the specialist continence service below.

Page last reviewed: May 12, 2026
Next review due: May 12, 2027

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