2017

September 16th 2015 marked the momentous achievement of 100 years of the WI. Much had been organised to celebrate the anniversary including a Centennial Fair in Harrogate, which took place from the 3rd to the 6th of September. The Fair was…

NHS England has today published new guidance to help improve the care and experience of children and adults with continence issues. Problems with the bladder affect more than 14 million people in the UK and about 6.5 million have bowel…

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has recently published a Recovering Well series of patient information designed to support women to get back on their feet after different types of gynaecological surgery.…

Clinicians in Southampton are set to lead a pioneering UK study into the use of a urine test that could help to diagnose bladder cancer. Tim Dudderidge, a consultant urological surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, and his team will…

Dr Martin McShane's Blog:I was at a roundtable on how health and care services need to change to meet the needs of people with multiple conditions. We heard from a patient who described the problems he was facing managing his diabetes,…

New research could lead to new treatments to prevent blockages and urinary tract infections experienced by many long-term catheter users. Up to 50 percent of long-term catheter users experience encrustations and subsequent blockage,…

Report by Professor Dame Sally Davies targets obesity and ovarian cancer and encourages women to talk about 'taboos' such as incontinence. In her latest annual report, ‘Health of the 51%: women’, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor…

After menopause, more than half of women may have vulvovaginal symptoms that have a big impact on their lifestyle, emotions, and sex life. What's more, the symptoms tend to travel with other pelvic troubles, such as prolapse and urinary and…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued its Final Appraisal Document (FAD) recommending REMICADE® (infliximab), HUMIRA® (adalimumab) and SIMPONI® (golimumab), within their marketing authorisations, as options…

This quality standard covers the management of urinary incontinence in women aged 18 years and over. It does not cover urinary incontinence in women with neurological disease. To read the document please visit the NICE website.

The Telegraph has reported that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will call for hospital managers to invest in safe care, following a report published by Frontier Economics, commissioned by the Department of Health, which found that the costs of…

In July NICE published new guidelines on safe staffing for nursing in acute hospitals. You can read these guidelines on the NICE webiste.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has given a speech on health and social care at the Labour Party conference, in which he largely reiterated Labour's commitement to integrated care and repealing the Health and Social Care Act. In his…

Children who start toilet training before age 2 have a three times higher risk of developing daytime wetting problems later, according to new research at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The study, involved 112 children ages 3 to 10.…

Men with a specific pattern of baldness at age 45 have a 40% increased risk of later developing aggressive prostate cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Increasingly, evidence is suggesting that…

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men around the world, but a new study suggests that eating 10 or more portions of tomatoes a week significantly lowers the risk of developing this disease. The study, a first of its kind…

Scientists have given us many reasons not to smoke, but now, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania provide evidence that, in white women with specific genetic variations, smoking causes early signs of menopause - up to 9 years…

Continence Advisor or Continence Physiotherapist - Do you know who does what? You've probably heard your GP mention Continence Advisors and Continence Physiotherapists before, but do you really know who does what? Although nowadays both…

If you would like to view a helpful video about how pelvic floor muscle exercises can help with SUI, especially after childbirth please click here to view it. Video shown with the permission of Women’s Physiotherapy Services, Cambridge…

NICE have published a guideline on bladder cancer.  This guideline offers evidence-based advice on the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer in adults (18 years and older) referred from primary care with suspected bladder cancer, and…

The results of a clinical study were recently published, looking specifically at the use of anticholinergics (cumulative) and the development of dementia for people over the age of 65. 1   Results from the study showed that the long-term…

Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. has announced new data from the Phase 2 TERRAIN trial of enzalutamide compared to bicalutamide in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), as well as an updated overall survival analysis from the…

According to study author Prof. James Morris of the Vancouver Cancer Centre at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) in Canada, this is the first study to compare the two techniques in the treatment of prostate cancer. The American…

Older women with urinary tract infections who are taking the commonly prescribed antibiotic nitrofurantoin are more likely to experience treatment failure, resulting in a second antibiotic prescription or a hospital visit, than if they…

Trillions of microorganisms colonize our gut and together form the intestinal flora that coats the inside of the intestine. The duties of these gut microorganisms are manifold: they digest food, produce nutrients, eliminate pollutants and…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published final Technology Appraisal Guidance (TAG) for vedolizumab (Entyvio®), the first gut-selective treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC).1 NICE has recommended…

'Love Your Gusset!' campaign urges women and teenage girls to get to grips with their pelvic health Two national charities are launching a social media campaign, 'Love your Gusset!', to empower women and teenage girls to look after their…

Many women have to get up more than once a night because of a full bladder, a new study finds. Researchers found that of over 2,000 women aged 40 and up, one-third said they routinely got up at least twice a night to use the bathroom.…

Some previous studies have linked the diabetes medication pioglitazone to bladder cancer. However a new study - including more than one million people in six populations worldwide - has found no link between either pioglitazone or…

Researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre have completed a critical step in the journey from a basic science discovery in the lab to a potential clinical application, showing that an experimental agent prevents tumour…

Incontinence is treatable.  It is therefore essential that assessment of incontinence is sought before you consider using pads as a permanent way to manage your bladder problem. You may wish to view the following articles…

Labour MP Rosie Cooper has tabled two written questions on continence care and UTI admissions, in which she asked the Health Secretary: Whether the revised Nursing and Midwifery Code will include provisions on bowel and bladder care to…

Researchers found that capsaicin - the ingredient that gives chili peppers their heat - activated a pain receptor in mice that reduced tumour  development in their gut. In their study, the team fed capsaicin to mice that were genetically…

UCLA researchers interviewed people with diverticulitis and confirmed that many suffer psychological and physical symptoms long after their acute illness has passed. For the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Quality of Life…

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a disorder with symptoms of mild to severe bladder pain and an urgent and/or frequent need to urinate. Treatment of IC/BPS often depends upon a clinician's preferences and experience…

Researchers at Queen's University have made a significant breakthrough that may benefit patients with bowel cancer. Dr Sandra van Schaeybroeck and her team have discovered how two genes cause bowel cancer cells to become resistant to…

Colorectal cancer has been linked to carbohydrate-rich western diets, but the underlying mechanisms have been unclear. A study published by Cell Press in the journal Cell shows that gut microbes metabolize carbohydrates in the diet, causing…

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published expert analysis on the way people experience health and adult social care in England. Findings from more than 35,000 inspections underpin its fourth annual State of Care report, which…

Find out more about CQC’s chief inspectors and download their Declaration of Interests.

CQC hospital listening events

Dr Martin McShane, NHS England's Director for Patients with Long Term Conditions, explains why we must ask patients the right questions and not let them suffer in silence. Domain 2 of the NHS outcomes framework is about 'enhancing the…

A new study, published in the UEG Journal reveals that 10% of IBD patients are misdiagnosed with IBS and in 3% of cases the misdiagnosis can persist for five or more years. The case-controlled study, conducted in the UK, assessed the…

Constipation in children can usually be relieved by making changes to your child’s diet and drinking habits. It can also be helpful to chart your child’s bowel movements by using a bowel diary. This may help your GP or Healthcare…

Once your healthcare specialist has determined the cause for your child’s bladder problem, there are various treatment options available. Antibiotics may be used to treat urinary tract infections (UTI’s) or simple changes in lifestyle or…

Your treatment for bladder cancer will depend on whether you have non-invasive bladder cancer or invasive bladder cancer. You may be treated with surgery only or alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Many of the treatments for bladder…

Treatment for bowel cancer is determined by a number of factors including the stage of your cancer, the location of the tumour (whether it’s located in the colon or rectum) and your health in general. Your MDT (multidisciplinary team),…

Fowler’s Syndrome is still a relatively new condition and there is currently no cure. Treatments involve the management of emptying the bladder. Conservative Treatments Regular Monitoring Most women with Fowler’s Syndrome are able to empty…

Symptoms of a vaginal fistula can cause embarrassment to the sufferer but in many cases they can be treated effectively. Surgery will be offered in most cases but you may also be prescribed medication if your fistula was caused by…

Colitis and Crohn’s are chronic illnesses for which there is currently no cure. Both conditions can be controlled with medication and in more complex, severe cases surgery may also be necessary to relieve inflammation. There are several…

Your treatment for Prostate cancer will depend on your type of tumour, how advanced the cancer is and your health in general. Some types of prostate cancer are slow growing and don’t interfere with any bladder function. These types of…