The reasons for catheter care are normally experiencing a serious injury or illness that has left someone unable to pass urine naturally and they need professional care. Our British Elderly Care team will ensure your catheter care is delivered in a friendly, professional, and discreet manner.

We will support you or your loved one in the comfort of your own home, using our extensive years of experience in health care. Because we pride ourselves in offering exceptionally high standards of care, we provide a level of continence and catheter care that preserves your dignity throughout the journey.

We also create tailored care plans which will reflect yours or your loved one’s care needs.

When urinary catheters are used

A urinary catheter is usually used when people have difficulty peeing (urinating) naturally. It can also be used to empty the bladder before or after surgery and to help perform certain tests.

Specific reasons a urinary catheter may be used include:

• To allow urine to drain if you have an obstruction in the tube urethra, for example, because of scarring.
• To allow you to urinate if you have bladder weakness or nerve damage that affects your ability to pee.
• To drain your bladder during childbirth if you have an epidural anaesthetic.
• To drain your bladder before, during or after some types of surgery.
• To deliver medicine directly into the bladder, such as during chemotherapy for bladder cancer.
• As a last resort treatment for urinary incontinence when other types of treatment have been unsuccessful.

Types of urinary catheter

There are 2 main types of urinary catheters:

• Intermittent catheters – these are temporarily inserted into the bladder and removed once the bladder is empty.
• Indwelling catheters – these remain in place for many days or weeks, and are held in position by an inflated balloon in the bladder.

Many people prefer to use indwelling catheters as they are more convenient and avoid the repeated insertions needed with intermittent catheters. However, indwelling catheters are more likely to cause problems such as infections. Because inserting a catheter is generally uncomfortable, anaesthetic gel may be used on the insertion area to reduce any pain.

You may also experience some discomfort while the catheter is in place, but most people with a long-term catheter get used to this over time. If you or your loved one need catheter care at home, our highly qualified carers can provide this. We can ensure the catheter is kept clean and keep an eye out for any infections, doing our best to avoid these along the way by monitoring the catheter and maintaining cleanliness in the area around it to reduce risk of contamination.

We also ensure drainage bags are emptied regularly and that they, and the catheters themselves, are worn in a comfortable position. While also ensuring the medical side of catheter care is managed at high standards.