Most people don’t like to talk about wee or toilet stuff – it’s still a taboo and embarrassing subject for many people. But it shouldn’t be – every one of your constituents has to wee somehow.

Despite bladder problems being some of the easiest medical issues to solve, too many people live with these problems in silence. We aim to get people talking about the challenges and barriers faced by people who use catheters. In our Calls to Action, we have outlined clear solutions which will improve the quality of life for patients who use urinary catheters. These solutions will also free up precious workforce time and save the NHS money.

Coloplast UK, in partnership with MS Trust, Spinal Injuries Association and The Urology Foundation are heading to Parliament to host a one-of-a-kind ‘escape room’ style challenge to raise awareness of the #CatheterCareChallenge in the UK and call for action to improve outcomes for people who use catheters.

As an intimate health issue, the challenges faced by people who use catheters in the community are sometimes overlooked in policy conversations. People who require urinary catheters often do so due to a wide range of conditions, such as spinal injuries and multiple sclerosis. Conditions such as these can significantly affect a person’s ability to empty their bladder effectively, which can lead to chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and cause a subsequent significant burden on the NHS. In the UK alone, around 14 million people are estimated to be living with bladder conditions[i].

There are over 90,000 people in the UK who use indwelling catheters [ii]. This does not include patients who use intermittent catheters and whilst published data is more limited it is estimated this is also in excess of a further 90,000 patients based on industry data. 

A one-of-a-kind, immersive and interactive parliamentary drop-in event to raise awareness of the serious challenges experienced by people who use urinary catheters. The event is being hosted by Paul Bristow MP. MPs, Peers and policymakers will be invited to participate in a short ‘escape-room’ style challenge which will see them compete against colleagues to access a toilet, answering quick-fire questions about catheters and ultimately competing against the clock to ‘catheterise’ safely to give patients the best experience possible, whilst saving the NHS from avoidable costs.

During the challenge, parliamentarians will answer questions and overcome various hurdles to access a toilet in time. They will either ‘win’ and ‘empty their bladder fully’, or ‘lose’ and ‘fail to empty their bladder’ in time. We hope that this challenge will demonstrate the sense of urgency felt by people who use catheters. It will also highlight the need to access a toilet. In addition, it will also present an opportunity for attendees to hear about improvements that could be made to catheter care in the UK and their constituencies.

In most cases, a catheter is inserted through the urethra to drain the bladder. This can be inserted by a Health Care Professional (an indwelling catheter that remains in the urethra, or a supra pubic catheter that is inserted directly into the bladder) or by the patient themselves (using an intermittent catheter).

Intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) is a highly effective method for managing urinary incontinence issues and is considered the ‘gold standard’ for urine drainage.[iii]

Patients should receive the care and treatment that is most appropriate to their personal needs and reflects their preferences, as outlined within the NHS Constitution.[iv]

As well as raising awareness of the #CatheterCareChallenge, this programme of work aims to deliver real change in the UK. We have developed clear ‘Calls to Action’ for healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, policymakers, communities and employers, catheter users and suppliers/manufacturers. This is our Calls to Action.

There are number of ways you can show your support either today or in the future.

Find out more about the charities involved

This event was initiated and funded by Coloplast UK and Ireland, and developed in partnership with MS Trust, Spinal Injuries Association and The Urology Foundation.

• https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/excellence-in-continence-care.pdf

• Urinary incontinence - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

• Cost-of-Poor-Bladder-Management-Report-2021.pdf (bladderinterestgroup.co.uk).

• Bladder Care - Bladder & Bowel Community (bladderandbowel.org)

• Home - ERIC

• Prostate Cancer UK – Boys Need Bins

• Continence - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)

• Overview | Bedwetting in under 19s | Guidance | NICE

• Overview | Urinary incontinence in neurological disease: assessment and management | Guidance | NICE

[i] NHS England. 2018. Excellence in Continence Care: Practical guidance for commissioners, and leaders in health and social care. Available: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/excellence-in-continence-care.pdf [date accessed: June 2023]

[ii] Gage H, Avery M, Flannery C, Williams P, Fader M. Community prevalence of long-term urinary catheters use in England. Neurourol Urodyn. 2017 Feb;36(2):293-296. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26878267/ [date accessed: June 2023]

[iii] Pannek J, Blok B, Castro-Diaz D, del Popolo G, Kramer G, Radziszewski P et al. EAU Guidelines on neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. European Association of Urology. 2013.

[iv] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england