Michelle Henderson, Clinical Education Manager, MacGregor Healthcare Ltd
Last month we were delighted to have attended the Kidz to Adultz Scotland exhibition, organised by Disabled Living. This superb free event was dedicated to children and young adults with disabilities and additional needs and to the parents, carers and healthcare professionals who support them.
We had the pleasure of meeting many parents, carers and healthcare professionals and even some young people themselves. There was a lot of interest in our low volume products (Qufora IrriSedo MiniGo and MiniGo Flex) for managing symptoms of constipation and faecal incontinence in children.
It was interesting to hear about services currently on offer and also to hear about plans for designing new services. I was able to provide information about other paediatric specialists who are successfully using the Qufora Irrisedo range to improve the lives of children with bowel problems. It was great to share the tools and information which we have to support HCPs with bowel management.
Kidz to Adultz also offer free CPD accredited seminars. There was an excellent educational programme for Healthcare Professionals around bladder and bowel development and treatment of symptoms.
I attended a great seminar presented by Davina Richards, Specialist Children’s Nurse, at Bladder and Bowel UK and Catriona Morrison, Consultant Paediatrician, from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. It was no surprise to hear that 2 out of 3 young people are too embarrassed to tell a doctor about their bladder and bowel symptoms; or that these symptoms have an enormous negative impact on self-esteem and self-confidence. However, the speakers spoke passionately about how this is not ‘ok’ and should not be considered normal for young people with special needs. They continued to add, how having low expectations can lead to missed opportunities for the child and that toilet training is an active process. With advice and support, and treatment when appropriate, continence is a reachable goal.
Click here to check out Bladder and Bowel UK for further information.