FOI/2025/26/204

Request

1. What is the current average and maximum waiting time for an initial continence assessment within South West London footprint? (Just Wandsworth for our element of this).

Wait between referral and initial continence assessment (Wandsworth)          Maximum wait (weeks)                     Average wait (weeks)

For people awaiting their first assessment (as at end of 25-Aug-2025)            1.71                                                   0.29

2. Are assessments carried out by trained continence specialists or general staff?

New continence assessments are completed by registered nurses only – this may be part of the general community nursing team where a patient is already known to them, however, for most new patients with no other nursing needs or where the assessment is more complex this is carried out by the continence specialist nursing team.All nurses carrying out assessment are trained in continence assessment and are supported by pathways within policy relating to continence assessment outcomes. Where any all-in-one products or high cost continence products are required, authorisation is overseen by the continence specialist team to ensure appropriate prescribing of these products.

3.Do your commissioned services routinely offer conservative management options (e.g. bladder training, pelvic floor exercises, dietary advice) before progressing to containment products or specialist referral?

Yes – this is supported by pathways within our policy and containment products should not be an automatic recommendation. The team also have access to patient advice leaflets and resources relating to e.g. pelvic floor exercises. The community nursing team would likely require specialist continence team advice for bladder training and an internal referral would be made after assessment.