Constipation in children and young people: developing a care pathway
- Rayner, Juliette
- Richardson, Davina
Abstract To address geographic inconsistencies in paediatric constipation care, NHS England's Excellence in Continence Care Programme Board and the National Bladder and Bowel Health Project formed a national intiative to create a new care pathway. Building on existing guidelines, it focuses on health promotion, early identification and intervention, and prevention, particularly in children aged 0-4 years. The pathway aims to reduce emergency admissions for constipation and related comorbidities, and improve confidence in managing constipation among patients' families and health professionals.
In this article…
The need for integrated services to manage constipation in children
How a new care pathway and related resources have been developed
How health promotion and early intervention can reduce the impact of constipation
Key points
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HEALTH & WELLBEING: CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Constipation is common in children and young people, especially those with learning disabilities and/or autism
Children's continence services vary across the UK and during the pandemic in many cases closed completely or provided a limited telephone service
Constipation can have long-lasting effects on all areas of life for patients and families
A new care pathway has been developed in line with integrated care systems
The new pathway aims to reduce emergency admissions through improved awareness among families and health professionals