Catheter removal now provided at home

Local patients will no longer have to go to hospital to have a catheter removed following the launch of a new service where nurses will complete the procedure in the patient’s home.

Every year many people living in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale need to be fitted with a urinary catheter on a short-term basis, while in hospital. In the past they would have needed to be re-admitted to hospital to have the catheter removed and sometimes have to stay overnight. This is because they need to be monitored over several hours after removing the catheter to make sure their bladder is working normally.

Known as a ‘trial without catheter’, the service is delivered by specialist nurses from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust urology services.

Patients who have received the service have been really positive and evidence shows that they prefer to have their catheter removed in the community, without exception.

Shirley Fisher, Integrated Adult Nursing Services Manager for Pennine Care, is leading the project. She said: “Offering a trial without catheter in the community is delivering many benefits such as a better patient experience because evidence shows people much prefer receiving their care at home. It also provides a more streamlined service and better joined-up working between health professionals across hospital and community services, which is reducing the need for extended hospital stays and possible readmissions.

“Local NHS organisations are working hard together to bring services out of hospital and into the community, wherever safe and appropriate, and we’re confident that this will be another example of successful partnership working between hospital and the community.

“The service is both cost and quality effective, as it frees up hospital-based clinicians to deal with more complex care needs, and supports care to be delivered at home, which is cheaper than delivering it in hospital.”

Annette German, Urology Lead Nurse for Pennine Acute, said: “Working in collaboration with the community nursing teams, the urology department at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust aims to provide patient-focused care. Trial Without Catheter is an ideal service to be delivered in patients’ homes to ensure they can avoid the stress of having to come into hospital.”

Every patient will be involved in a discussion about removing their catheter and hospital staff will liaise directly with the community Specialist Continence Team. A date will be agreed to remove the catheter and the team will get in touch with the patient to arrange a time and day.

Prior to removing the catheter, the patient will have an opportunity to discuss the procedure face-to-face with the nurse and raise any concerns or issues they may have. Once the catheter has been removed the nurse will keep in regular contact with the patient throughout the day and will carry out further visits and reassessments until they are satisfied the procedure has been successful.