Contact us
0300 123 3167
kentchft.continence@nhs.net
If you need to talk to us about continence products, please contact our product delivery service:
0300 123 1955
kcht.pds@nhs.net
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
If you have any questions about product delivery or need to activate an order, please contact ESSITY:
0345 741 3643
tena.co.uk/order
Who we are
We are a team of Bladder and Bowel Specialist Nurses, Pelvic Health Physiotherapists and Assistant Practitioners with expertise in the care and treatment of bladder, bowel and pelvic health conditions, including pelvic floor dysfunction, continence and incontinence support. We are supported by our administrative team. We offer a service to clients in Ashford, Canterbury and Coastal, South Kent Coast, Thanet and west Kent areas.
Some of the problems we aim to treat are:
- stress urinary incontinence - leaking urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze or with exertion, for example, walking or running
- urgency - the feeling of urgently wanting to go to the toilet that is difficult to put off
- urge urinary incontinence - urgently wanting to go to the toilet and then leaking urine before you get there
- frequency - needing to go to the toilet more than six to eight times over a 24 hour period
- overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome - urgency and frequency, with or without incontinence (urine leakage)
- recurrent urine infections
- appliances - we can assist with appliances/fitting of appliances
- prolapse - this is the dropping down of one of your pelvic organs causing a feeling of heaviness or a bulge from the vagina or back passage
- faecal urgency - problem of needing to open your bowels without much warning
- constipation - hard stools, infrequent opening of your bowels, the feeling of straining, and sometimes feeling like you can’t completely empty your bowels
- faecal incontinence - this is an inability to control wind or stool resulting in leakage - this can also be associated with urgency
- problems following a prostatectomy - after having this procedure the pelvic floor musculature and nerve supply can affect urinary leakage, anal incontinence, erectile dysfunction.
What we do
We provide information, support and professional advice to clients, healthcare practitioners and carers in order to maximize the quality of life for patients. We believe everyone has the right to be continent and have access to the highest standards of care; where symptoms cannot be treated they can often still be improved.
Our Bladder and Bowel Specialist Nurses carry out assessments, urinalysis, bladder scanning, support with medication, anal irrigation, and self-catheterisation and review of treatment for obstructed defaecation (constipation). They also carry out physical pelvic floor assessment where appropriate. Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapists treat incontinence and gynaecological dysfunction and post-natal perineal tears, pelvic organ prolapse, post-prostatectomy incontinence, Faecal incontinence and constipation, as well as treating pelvic/vaginal/perineal pain. We use techniques such as physiotherapy exercises, lifestyle advice, biofeedback and electrotherapy.
If you meet the referral criteria, you will be invited to attend an Education session if appropriate to your condition, and will be offered a follow up appointment as required after this. In certain situations, you will be offered an individual appointment with either the Nurse or Physiotherapist in the first instance.
If you do not meet the criteria we may make onward referrals to other services or providers to support you further.
- Urinalysis
This is where we test your urine to make sure there are no problems that might be causing your bladder problems such as infection or diabetes. - Bladder scan
This is an ultrasound scan of your bladder to make sure that it is emptying properly. - Bladder diary
This can be useful to fill out to find out how much you are drinking and how often you pass urine. If you have an appointment fill this out before you get there and bring it with you. It is suggested you complete 3 days to get the most accurate information, ideally a mix of home and work days.
Tip: Buy a plastic measuring jug and urinate into this to get an accurate measure of how much your bladder can hold. Record this on the diary. Also measure your favourite cup or mug then you won’t have to keep measuring your drinks.
How do you use this service?
You can ask your GP or healthcare professional to make a referral to our service.
We also accept self referrals; contact us using the details at the top of this page.
Professional advisory sessions
Kent Continence Service are a nursing and physio service that undertake face to face and virtual appointments for referrals to our service, via GPs and the acute trust. We also accept self-referrals.
We are available to support nurses, physios and members of the team with any queries they may have regarding clients under their care.
We provide a phone support service Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday every week.
To access this service, please call 0300 123 3167.
KCHFT recommends the ‘Squeezy’ app
Read more about Squeezy at squeezyapp.co.uk.
However other apps are available and can be found by searching ‘pelvic floor exercises’ or ‘Kegel exercises’.
Pelvic floor education video session
This video will help guide you in understanding your pelvic floor and the function of the pelvic floor in relation to bladder, bowel and pelvic floor dysfunction. It will also support you with present complaints; or could simply be used as a refresher. It can be of benefit to everyone (whatever their pelvic floor problems) and we encourage you to watch it as many times as you like.
For feedback on the video please complete one of the following surveys:
Pelvic floor information for men
This video will help guide men and those with male anatomy to understand your pelvic floor and the function of the pelvic floor in relation to bladder,
Bowel information for men and women
This video presentation is designed for men and women who are experiencing complaints with their bowels. This could be constipation, incomplete
Our locations
Broadstairs Health Centre
The Broadway, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AJ
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Churchill Centre
Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7NJ
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Deal and Walmer Community Clinic
Bowling Green Lane, Deal, CT14 9UF
Our services at this location
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Dover Health Centre
Maison Dieu Road, Dover, Kent CT16 1RH
Our services at this location:
- Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy
- Community Orthopaedics
- Continence Service
- Dental Service
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Helpful information for the dental clinic
Dental number: 01304 865556
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (closed for lunch 1 to 2pm)
Parking: Pay and display car park on Maison Dieu Road
Closest train/tube station: Dover Priory Train
Bus routes: Pencester Road
Taxi rank: No
Is the clinic shown on the map: Yes
Inside the clinic:
Lift: Yes
Bariatric chair: No
Inhalation sedation: Yes
IV sedation: Yes
Other speciality treatments: OPG Clinic
Hoist: Two
Wheelchair access: Yes
Anything else: No
Exchange House
Thomas Way, Hersden, Kent CT3 4NH
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Hythe Clinic
140-144 High Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 5JU
Our services at this location
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital
King Edward Avenue, Herne Bay, CT6 6EB
The UTC at this hospital is run by local GPs.
Community hospital
Please see our Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital page for more details.
Urgent Treatment Centre
Please call 01227 594756 for the UTC.
Daily: 8am to 8pm
X-ray: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 1pm and 2 to 4pm*
The UTC treats:
- Sprains and strains
- Dressings
- Cuts and wounds
- Minor head injuries
- Wound infections
- Children over one with a minor injury
- Minor eye injuries and infections
- Minor back, shoulder or chest injuries
- Minor burns and scalds
- Insect and animal bites
The UTC at this hospital is run by local GPs.
Our services at this location
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
St Stephens Health Centre
St Stephen's Walk, Ashford, Kent TN23 5AQ
Our services at this location:
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Tonbridge Community Hospital
Vauxhall Lane, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 0NE
Community hospital
Please see our Tonbridge Community Hospital page for more details.
Our services at this location
- Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy
- Children’s Therapies
- Community Orthopaedics
- Continence Service
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
Vicarage Lane Clinic
Vicarage Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 1NJ
Our services at this location:
- Continence Service
- Podiatry Service
- Sexual Health
All clinic appointments must be booked.
Phone 0300 123 1678 to make a sexual health appointment. No walk-in clinics are available at this time.
Monday: 12 to 7pm
Tuesday: 8.30am to 5pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 1 to 7pm
Friday: Closed
Clinic times may change.
Please note there may be other services at this location, including services not provided by KCHFT.
October 2024
QMVH, Herne Bay
September 2024
Aylesford
August 2024
Churchill Centre
July 2024
Canterbury
June 2024
Ashford
May 2024
Deal Community Clinic
February 2024
Virtual
January 2024
Margate
May 2023
Margate
May 2023
Virtual
April 2023
Canterbury
April 2023
Margate
April 2023
Broadstairs
April 2023
Dover
March 2023
Canterbury
March 2023
Herne Bay
March 2023
Margate
March 2023
Tonbridge
January 2023
St Stephens Centre
January 2023
Dover Health Centre
January 2023
Deal Community Clinic
December 2022
Margate
June 2022
Virtual appointment
June 2022
Virtual appointment
June 2022
Virtual appointment
May 2022
St Stephens Health Centre
May 2022
Whitstable & Tankerton Hospital
April 2022
Tonbridge Cottage Hospital
May 2022
QVMH, Herne Bay
April 2022
Churchill Centre, Aylesford
March 2022
Canterbury Health Centre
March 2022
Virtual appointment
March 2022
Tonbridge Cottage Hospital
February 2022
Exchange House
February 2022
Broadstairs
February 2022
QVMH, Herne Bay
February 2022
Virtual appointment
February 2022
St Stephens Health Centre
January 2022
Exchange House
January 2022
Broadstairs
January 2022
Virtual appointment
January 2022
Canterbury Health Centre
November 2022
Hythe Clinic
October 2022
Hythe Clinic
November 2022
Tonbridge Cottage hospital
October 2022
Broadstairs Health Centre
October 2022
Virtual
September 2022
Deal Community Clinic
September 2022
Hythe Clinic
September 2022
Dover Health Centre
September 2022
Deal Community Clinic
August 2022
Virtual
August 2022
Virtual
August 2022
Tonbridge Cottage hospital
July 2022
Canterbury Health Centre
July 2022
Hythe Clinic
July 2022
Churchill Centre
July 2022
Dover Health Centre