A panel comprising clinical specialists in MS and bladder and bowel management alongside people with MS (PwMS) carried out a review of current literature and practice in managing the neurogenic bladder, to provide up to date consensus guidelines on optimal bladder management for PwMS.
The Consensus document was published in the British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing in January 2022
PwMS will often experience a variety of bladder issues, and an increased risk of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), a leading cause of hospital admission among this patient group and a significant economic burden on the NHS.
The last UK consensus document on managing the MS bladder was published in 2009, and the new consensus document provides an update this guidance. The panel present new evidence-based recommendations related to assessment of the lower urinary tract in PwMS, and the range of bladder management solutions available to support the different stages of the condition. The guidance includes promoting patient self-management through Clean Intermittent Self Catheterisation (CISC) as a first line treatment, as well as the use of home testing kits and patient initiated follow up.
A key recommendation is the need for a national bladder pathway for PwMS.
The consensus panel
Chair
Sue Thomas, Independent Healthcare Consultant
MS specialists
Joan Bradley, Lead Nurse, MS and Rehabilitation, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Ruth Stross, Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Nurse, Surrey Downs Health and Care, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Jane Young, Nurse Consultant, Bladder and Bowel Service, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Neurologists
Ian Pomeroy, Consultant Neurologist, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool
Agne Straukiene, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Patient representatives/advocates
Trishna Bharadia, Health Advocate and Patient Engagement Consultant, The Spark Global; MS Patient Advocate
Mark Webb, Disability and Diversity Campaigner and Head of Communications, Shift.ms
Continence specialist
Ann Yates, Director of Continence Services, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
MS Trust representative
Megan Roberts, Head of Health Professionals Programmes, MS Trust