Our activities are directed towards:
(1) Consensus and Agreement on Clinical Practice
The development of a progressive practice education package, written by Dr. K. Getliffe and sponsored by SCA Mšlnlycke. It consists of three continuing education articles and a study day to consolidate knowledge and is aimed at all trained nurses, particularly nursing home staff.
Due to demand, several important documents have been reprinted: (a) Digital Rectal Examination, Manual Removal of Faeces - The Role of the Nurse; (b) Incontinence and Skin Care - The Role of the Nurse; (c) A Purchaser's Guide to Continence Services and Marketing Template. One document has been updated: Male Catheterisation - The Role of the Nurse - Professional Accountability for Practice. These are all available from RCN Headquarters. A poster was published in Nursing Standard in October 1996 on "Guidelines to Management of Suprapubic Catheters".
(2) Providing a platform from which to campaign on issues related to all aspects of continence care.
Two resolutions were proposed to and adopted by the RCN 1997 Congress. One urged the RCN Council to seek equitable access to specialist nursing care for both private and NHS patients, the other, headed "Investing In Continence", demanded that every individual affected by incontinence have the right to clinical assessment, appropriate treatment and / or free incontinence products.
Both received more than a two-thirds majority, which means that the RCN Council must work to fulfil their demands by next year.
In addition, we shall be holding our two-day Annual National Conference on The Cost of Incontinence in Sheffield in November 1997. For National Continence Day we held study day on The Pelvic Floor - A Supporting Act for healthcare professionals in support of "National Pelvic Floorathon"; and three "Updates in Continence Management" study days are being held in different regions.
The Forum produces two Newsletters a year which are circulated to all 1,800 members.
Angela Billington