Urinary catheter-related visits to the emergency department and implications for community services.

Unlabelled: Thousands of patients live with urinary catheters and the potential complications deriving from long-term use. Disjointed community services may result in patients attending the emergency department (ED) to manage catheter complications.

Aim: to conduct a service review of catheterised patients attending the ED of a large London hospital; to describe incidence, reasons for attendance and cost to inform future planning for out-of-hospital care.

Indwelling urinary catheters: should we secure them?

Tiziana Ansell, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Continence, Health Innovation Network, discusses recent research into catheter securement and some of the considerations for nurses.