ENURESIS RESOURCE AND INFORMATION CENTRE (ERIC)

The Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC) has been involved in a variety of projects over the past year. We continue to expand our core services - the helpline received over 6,500 calls in the past 12 months and our 500-strong parent and professional worldwide subscriber network remain in touch through our quarterly magazines and newsletters. On September 22-23 1997, ERIC held its Fifth National Conference, entitled "Solving the Puzzle of Enuresis: Practical Ways Forward", at the University of York. The conference was attended by 200 delegates from the UK and overseas who enjoyed a varied programme of speakers on topics ranging from "the role of medication in treating enuresis" to "raising pelvic floor awareness in children". An after-dinner jazz band had many of the delegates, not to mention the ERIC team, up on their feet dancing!

The Enuresis Resource and Information Centre (ERIC) has been involved in a variety of projects over the past year. We continue to expand our core services - the helpline received over 6,500 calls in the past 12 months and our 500-strong parent and professional worldwide subscriber network remain in touch through our quarterly magazines and newsletters.

On September 22-23 1997, ERIC held its Fifth National Conference, entitled "Solving the Puzzle of Enuresis: Practical Ways Forward", at the University of York. The conference was attended by 200 delegates from the UK and overseas who enjoyed a varied programme of speakers on topics ranging from "the role of medication in treating enuresis" to "raising pelvic floor awareness in children". An after-dinner jazz band had many of the delegates, not to mention the ERIC team, up on their feet dancing!

In 1996, ERIC commissioned the UK's National Health Service Centre for Review & Dissemination, University of York, to carry out a systematic review of interventions for the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. This comprehensive, international study of the randomised control trials was published and presented at the ERIC Conference.

We were very pleased to be awarded a grant from the King's Fund, a UK-based charitable trust, in January 1998 to enable us to set up a service for children with the problems of constipation and faecal soiling. This is a much neglected area in the UK, with a limited literature base and no protocols for good practice. With guidance from a multi-disciplinary advisory committee, over the coming months ERIC will publish a booklet for parents and train its helpline team. ERIC will also commission a literature review later in 1998 with a view to formulating national standards of practice in this area.

In an attempt to replace a now limited level of government funding, we have been actively pursuing company sponsorship. ERIC continues to enjoy valuable support from Ferring Pharmaceuticals and N H Eastwood & Son Ltd - and we were delighted to gain the support of Kimberly-Clark earlier this year. We hope to attract further partnerships during the coming months.

The amount of new work for the small ERIC team seems to be ever-growing. Projects for the coming year include:

• Setting up a database of clinic audits
• Publishing a booklet for parents on childhood soiling
• Publishing a series of booklets on incontinence in children with special needs
• Holding approximately one training seminar a month around the UK on childhood nocturnal enuresis, day-time wetting and soiling
• Carrying out a literature review of research on childhood soiling.

ERIC will be holding its Sixth Conference on 22-23 September 1999 at Nottingham University, UK. Further details will be available from ERIC in the autumn.

Penny Dobson