FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS 2004
SOUTH TYNESIDE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST RESPONSE TO
INFORMATION REQUEST
Date Request Received: 19.1.17
Ref
V834
Summary: Digital bowel management
As a request under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide the
following information on bowel management for spinal cord injured people and
others with neurogenic bowel dysfunction
1. Does the Trust have a formal written policy for digital rectal
examination/check, digital rectal stimulation and the digital removal of faeces
(manual bowel evacuation) in spinal cord injured and other patients with
neurogenic bowel dysfunction ?
We have an Integrated Continence Policy which covers all aspects of
continence care
2. If the Trust does, please supply a copy of this document.
See attached
3. If the Trust does not, how is bowel care managed in the above patient
groups who present with this care need?
Not applicable
4. Does the Trust employ a specialist continence nurse(s)?
We have a Bladder & Bowel Team of Specialist Nurses covering
Sunderland and South Tyneside 5. If the Trust employs a specialist continence nurse(s) can they
(a) undertake digital rectal checks, digital rectal stimulation and digital removal
of faeces (manual bowel evacuation), otherwise known as 'intimate digital
bowel care procedures'
(b) provide instruction to other nurses to enable them to perform intimate
digital bowel care procedures'?
They deliver care in all of the areas asked about and deliver a training
day which also covers these areas of care and is supported with a
competency booklet.
6. If the Trust does not employ a specialist continence nurse, is there another
health care professional who undertakes intimate digital bowel care
procedures including manual bowel evacuation? If yes, who does this?
Not applicable
7. Does your Trust have a policy in place that will allow your staff to do trans-
anal irrigation (TAI) of the bowel as a method of bowel care management for
spinal cord injured patients? Do you train your staff to do TAI/ bowel
irrigation?
There is no specific policy for trans anal irrigation but this is included in
the training day discussed above.
8. Do you run bowel care courses for your staff that allows them to deliver the
full range of bowel care required by spinal cord injured patients or others with
a neurogenic bowel?
See above
9. If yes, please provide details. If no, does the Trust have a policy which
allows for the personal care assistants (PAs) of spinal cord injured patients to
assist with this element of the patient's care?
A section on spinal Injured and neurological patients is included in the
training day as above.
Date response sent:
3.2.17