Catheter Q&A

Suprapubic catheters If possible your doctor will try to use a urethral catheter. There may be times however where using a suprapubic catheter through your abdominal wall is a better choice. Many patients who use suprapubic catheters say that they actually find them more comfortable than a standard catheter. Clinicians prefer them for some patients because there is a smaller chance of infection The advantages of a suprapubic catheter • Your urethra is lined with delicate skin which can be damaged over time if you use a urethral catheter longterm. Suprapubic catheters avoid this and also potential irritation to the neck (opening) of the bladder where the catheter balloon sits. • Hygiene is of utmost importance with catheters. Suprapubic catheters are much easier to keep clean because of where they sit on the body. This also makes them easier to wash. • Suprapubic catheters can be easier to change yourself as well. • Some patients find that urethral catheters get caught and pulled by clothing more often. • Bigger tubes can be used with suprapubic catheters which means they are less likely to get blocked Thank you for reading this blog, we hope you found it useful!

Many patients worry that having a catheter will stop them going on holiday or travelling. But not only is it possible to travel with an indwelling catheter, many catheter users travel regularly without any problems. Follow these top tips about flying with a catheter to ensure your journey goes as smoothly as possible: 1. Pack the right products Make sure you have enough products with you for at least 2 catheter changes in case you need an emergency change or should one of the products become contaminated. Remember to include everything you need for a change including: – The catheter with inflation and deflation syringe – Lubricant Gel – Enough leg bags for your stay and at least 2 spares – Sterile gloves if you have been trained to perform your own catheter changes 2. Pack your products in the right bag Try to keep a proportion of continence products in your cabin baggage, just in case your hold luggage gets lost or misplaced. Keep some hand sanitizer available in your cabin baggage incase the onboard dispenser is empty. 3. Contact your airline Call your airline in advance to ask if there is anything specifically they can advise or provide…

Do you know how much your continence products cost? To users, thankfully, they are free. But do you know how much the NHS pays for them? This question is key. Because without costs being controlled, the NHS will not be sustainable. At LINC Medical we think outside the box to find ways of saving the NHS money. Money saved means more money available for patient care. Everybody wins. Rethinking products For every indwelling catheter that is prescribed, a lubricant gel is also needed when the catheter is inserted. The NHS has to pay for two products. But on top of that, they must also pay the costs of two prescriptions. These are fees that are paid to chemists and delivery companies and total £13.45 per item! So even though the cost of a lubricant gel is relatively small, the NHS pays an additional £13.45 on top of the unit price. This is repeated for every catheter prescribed in the UK. Do you know what is shocking? Very few health care professionals are aware of these costs. I have spoken to a room of 10 health care professionals and none of them were aware of the additional costs associated with each…