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Continence issues

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For children with continence issues (including day and night wetting) a referral needs to be made to the community paediatric continence service by a GP or paediatrician. While waiting on an appointment the nursing team will signpost you to the Bowel and Bladder UK and ERIC websites. 


The Bowel and Blader UK charity have a free digital ‘just can’t wait’ card you can download to use when out and about if urgent access to a toilet is needed: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/help-information/just-cant-wait-card/ 


They also have a range of information guides on their website: https://www.bbuk.org.uk/children-young-people/resources-for-children/ 


The charity ERIC are dedicated to improving children’s bowel and bladder health and have a lot of information on their website, covering topics like constipation and stool withholding: https://eric.org.uk/ 


All referrals to the continence service will undergo a full continence assessment and a treatment plan will be put in place. If the treatment plan is not successful continence products will be discussed. You will also be given contact details if further future support is required: 

  • Additional Needs School Nurses: 01698 366754 

  • Community Children’s Nurses:01698 366035 


For adults (age 16+) NHS Lanarkshire’s continence nurses offer a self-referral service, or a referral can be made by a GP.  The service can be contacted on 01698 687720 (Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4.30pm). This service is run by Alba Medical Group on behalf of the NHS: https://www.lanarkshiremedicalgroup.co.uk/help-and-support-service-types/continence-service/ 


Before seeing the continence team they will expect you to complete a bladder and/or bowel diary (minimum 3 days) and to have followed lifestyle advice on fluid intake, caffeine reduction and a regular toileting regime. 

The continence team will provide pads and pull ups based on need, and accommodate larger sizes than can’t be readily bought in shops. Pull ups are not supplied for any new referrals, those who have received them for the last few years can continue to receive them: https://www.nhsggc.scot/hospitals-services/services-a-to-z/sphere-bladder-and-bowel-service/incontinence-pads/ 


The size provided needs to be changed by a school nurse or health visitor, the company who deliver the pads won’t change it without authorisation. Many parents have found the difference between sizes to be huge so it may be worth asking the continence team for a sample of the next size before making a change as it may be too big to be practical. The daily allowance is 3 pads which is not enough for most needs so parents buy their own to have enough supplies. Some parents have successfully appealed this allowance but had to prove liquid intake and get their GP to back up their appeal. Sizing can vary across brands, with some finding pull ups have a bit more stretch in them than nappies so can be used for a higher age. Recommended brands to buy are:  






You can buy larger than standard baby wipes to help with cleaning, such as these 



Constipation is very common in children (more common in autistic children) and even if they have regular bowel movements they can still have compacted stools in their bowels. Using a toilet step seat (such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toddler-Training-Cushion-Foldable-Bathroom/dp/B0BBPFBVPR) helps as lifting the legs encourages bowel movements. Reflexology or massage can also help. The GP may test for an intolerance such as to lactose (found in milk) or gluten 


Commons treatments are: 

  • Lactulose – to soften stools and make them easier to pass. Comes in a sweet flavoured syrup which can be dliuted in water or juice. 

  • Laxido – to help move slow bowels. Available in orange flavour or a ‘tasteless’ sachet that can be added to food or drink, some note that it is an unpleasant flavour despite being tasteless 

  • Movicol – comes in a powder or a liquid and is used to treat compacted stools. It is recommended to mix it in yoghurt to hide the taste (the taste is still very strong when given in juice) 

Non medical options include orange juice, mango juice, prune juice, figs (fresh or syrup of figs), or a very small amount of organic coffee with raw honey in it. There are also fibre supplements you can add to other food and drinks such as Optifibre (https://www.amazon.co.uk/OPTIFIBRE-Fibre-Supplement-Powder-Gluten-Free/dp/B09JCH7C72) or Fybogel (https://www.boots.com/fybogel-hi-fibre-lemon-10-sachets-10288397 ) 

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