The 
Children’s Continence Service works with children up to 18 years old to assess, manage and treat problems with constipation, soiling, daytime wetting, night-time wetting and delayed toilet training. The service is extended up to 19 years for young people attending complex needs schools.
We are a specialist level 2 service which means that these problems should first be addressed by universal services such as health visitors, school nurses, GPs or Just One Number. If the problems can’t be helped by these professionals, then a referral can be made to see us. Often problems can be helped with advice from universal services without needing to wait for a referral to the Children’s Continence Team.
We recognise that for some children, despite working hard to become toilet trained, this may not be achieved at the same time as their peers. If a child meets the criteria and has been putting toilet training advice from our service into place, a supply of continence products can be provided while working towards this skill.
Our team is made up of specialist paediatric continence nurses and assistant practitioners. We support families by giving advice on medications, changing lifestyle factors or behaviours around using the toilet. We will also look out for any signs that indicate a need to be referred into acute hospital care.
Children will continue to receive support from our service until their problem resolves and they can be discharged or there is a need for them to be referred onwards.
We work in clinics across the county, seeing children who are registered with a Norfolk and Waveney GP (with the exception of the Great Yarmouth area who are looked after by East Coast Community Healthcare.
Any initial concerns with bladder or bowel problems should be directed to Just One Norfolk. The clinicians there can complete a level one assessment and advise the next actions. If you are worried that your child is unwell and requires more immediate care, please contact your child’s GP in the first instance.
Referrals can be made to the Children’s Continence Service if advice and support from universal services (health visitors, school nurses, GPs or Just One Number) hasn’t improved the continence problem.
Referrals can be made by calling Just One Number on 0300 300123 (Mon-Fri, 8am to 6pm). Please note:
We aim to help children and young people achieve continence, whenever possible, to support them to achieve a good quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Resolving continence difficulties in children and young people can take many months; early diagnosis and appropriate management can support this process.
For those children and young people where full continence is unlikely to be achieved, we aim to support them in managing their condition to enable them to access the opportunities available to them.
Our skilled nurses and assistant practitioners will assess your child and agree on a plan of care to best meet their needs. This may include:
Address: Children’s Continence Service, St James Clinic, Extons Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5NU.
Telephone: 01553 668511
Email: CYPcontinence@nchc.nhs.uk
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