“This service is about more than just managing symptoms - it’s about restoring dignity, independence, and quality of life to people living with bladder issues,” according to Teresa Mulhern, Candidate Advanced Nurse Practitioner, commenting on the new community-based urological service in Donegal.  Expected to transform the management of urinary incontinence,  the new Integrated Specialist Continence Care Service (ISSCS) aims to bring expert care closer to home and offers timely, effective treatment through an integrated approach.

Teresa added that “by bringing expert care into the community, we’re making support more accessible and outcomes more effective. Help is available. The ISSCS team is ready to provide expert, compassionate care to support better bladder health and well-being.”

With urinary incontinence affecting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men, the need for early intervention and community-based support is greater than ever. The ISSCS is a key component of the Irish Society of Urology’s new Urology Model of Care, delivering services through local primary care centres and hospitals. This model has developed three pathways inclusive of haematuria, lower urinary tract symptoms, and continence management pathway with ISSCS.

Rather than relying solely on containment products, the ISSCS prioritises identifying and treating the root causes of incontinence. This not only improves quality of life but also helps reduce hospital visits, GP workload, and healthcare costs.

The patient pathway begins with an initial assessment by a GP or the urology team at Letterkenny University Hospital. If suitable, patients are referred by the GP to one-stop community clinics staffed by an advanced nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialists, and specialist physiotherapists in pelvic health. These professionals conduct in-depth assessments and investigations including uroflowmetry, urodynamics, and pelvic health support. Complex cases are referred to the hospital based urology team for further review if required.

After a successful development phase in temporary accommodation, the ISSCS will be operating clinics from permanent facilities in Letterkenny Primary Care Centre- Scally Place, with clinics operating in Inishowen and Mountcharles. 

Bladder health issues can be life-altering, but it should not have to be faced alone. The ISSCS team encourages anyone experiencing symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, stress incontinence, night-time urination, or difficulty emptying the bladder to speak with their GP.

The development further illustrates how the priorities of the HSE Corporate Plan are being implemented across the health service. In this new service patients are receiving the right care in the right place – closer to their homes. The innovative approach demonstrates improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.