Continence Service
Patient information
What we do
Continence problems might include:
- Rushing to the toilet
- Going to the toilet often
- Leaking or soiling yourself
- Going to the toilet a lot at night
- Leaking when you cough, sneeze, exercise or during sexual intercourse
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Difficulty going to the toilet
- Having a prolapse
- Having pelvic or pelvic floor pain
- Needing advice about continence aids or coping with a bladder or bowel problem
- Needing advice if you care for someone with a bladder or bowel problem
Our staff have specialised skills and training in continence care and include:
- Continence nurse consultants
- Continence/pelvic floor physiotherapists
- Continence physicians/geriatricians
- Clinical psychologists
- Urologists
- Continence dietitians
We offer services through:
- Clinic, telehealth, and home-based consultations
- Bayside Urology Continence Clinic (BUCC)
- Video Urodynamics Service (VUDS)
What to expect
We investigate your bladder or bowel issue with you thoroughly. We develop a management plan with you to help to understand and care for your bladder and bowel.
Our treatment options include:
- Bladder retraining
- Lifestyle advice
- Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation
- Continence product advice
- Toileting programs
- Defaecation training
- Laxative advice
- Support, education and advice to carers
- Specialised investigations including video urodynamics studies
When you are seen by the Continence Service, we:
- Ask about your bladder and/or bowel problem
- Ask about your medical history and medications
- Get you to pass urine in a special toilet
- Test your urine
- Do a simple ultrasound on your bladder
- Examine you if you are comfortable
Commonly asked questions
Consultations with a continence nurse, physiotherapist, clinical psychologist or geriatrician are free of charge and no medical referral is needed.
Video urodynamic studies require a doctor's referral and are bulk billed via Medicare.
We ask that you bring a medication list and a 2-day bladder and/or a bowel diary to first appointment (available in resources)
Home visits
We do see people in their own home if they find it very difficult to come into Caulfield Hospital for an appointment and live in the city councils of Port Phillip, Stonnington and Glen Eira.
How to access this service
Referrals
Family, carers, case managers and patients can refer to our services using our online referral form.
Once a referral has been received, a Care Coordinator will phone the patient to discuss their needs and organise appropriate services. The Care Coordinator will provide the patient with their phone number. Patients are encouraged to contact the Care Coordinator if they have any concerns.
Self referrals
Online self referrals make it quicker and easier to send your referral to us in a safe and secure manner.
To self refer to this service, please visit our online referral form.
What to bring
Every time you come
- Medicare card
- Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
- Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
- Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
- Previous X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
- Medicines you need to take while you are here
- Medications list (or the boxes), including over-the-counter supplements (e.g. herbal supplements, vitamins)
- Glasses, hearing aids, or mobility aids, as needed
For a clinic appointment
- Your appointment letter
- Any special items listed on your letter
- TAC or WorkCover claim number (if relevant)
Our clinics
| Clinic name | Campus | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bayside Urology Continence Clinic | Caulfield Hospital | 260 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield VIC 3162 |