Thanks to people speaking up and Healthwatch action, bladder and bowel healthcare is improving
Continence care is something many people find difficult to talk about, yet it affects thousands of individuals and families across North Yorkshire.
When people cannot access the right support, it has a serious impact on daily life, confidence, and long-term health.
We listened to people who shared their experiences of trying to get help with bladder and bowel needs.
Their stories show how important it is to treat continence care with dignity and understanding
Why continence care matters
- 14 million people in the UK live with bladder problems
- 6.5 million people live with bowel problems
- Many people feel unable to ask for help because of stigma
- It affects people of all ages and genders
- Speaking up leads to real improvements in local services
Since publishing our report, “It’s time to talk continence”, in 2023 and sharing what people told us, we have seen important steps begin to take shape.
Services have started to look at how they assess continence needs, how information is shared, and how people are directed to the right support.
These changes are happening because individuals spoke up about their experiences and highlighted where things were not working.
Learn how we’ve made a difference?
Read the original report here
