Catheters: Improving Safety and Dignity

Catheters: Improving Safety and DignityUrinary catheterisation remains common across acute, community and care home settings, yet inappropriate or prolonged use continues to contribute to avoidable harm including catheter-associated urinary tract infections, urethral trauma and moisture-associated skin damage. At the same time, nurses are balancing infection prevention, patient dignity, workload pressures and evolving national guidance.

This webinar will explore best practice in bladder assessment and urinary management, supporting nurses to make informed, person-centred decisions about when catheterisation is indicated and when alternative approaches may be appropriate. Drawing on current guidance, case examples and multidisciplinary perspectives, the session will examine strategies to reduce catheter-associated harm, protect skin integrity and improve patient experience across different care settings.

Through expert presentations, case discussion and panel debate, participants will gain practical insight into safer urinary management and the role of nurses in reducing unnecessary invasive catheter use while maintaining quality of care.

Agenda

12:00 – 12:05  Welcome and introduction

• Overview of the session and learning objectives

12:05 – 12:30 Short-term Catheter use, high CAUTI risk and discharge planning

• Comprehensive assessment before catheterisation
• Indications for indwelling and intermittent catheter use
• When to consider non-invasive alternatives
• Reducing avoidable harm and catheter-associated UTIs

Elinor Howcroft, Continence Service Lead Nurse, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

12:30 – 12:55 Guidance and supporting informed choice

• Intermittent catheter guidance and implications for practice
• Shared decision-making and patient preference
• Ensuring access to a range of urinary management options
• Monitoring suitability and reviewing ongoing need
• Candice Ross, Team Lead Bladder and Bowel Service, NHS Fife

12:55 – 13:00 Comfort break

13:00 – 13:25 Industry symposium: Reducing invasive catheter use in women – a case-based approach

13:25 – 13:50 Urinary management across different clinical settings

• Care homes: long-term catheterisation and reducing avoidable harm
• Community nursing: lone working, urgent troubleshooting and family education
• Hospitals: Missed catheter review and inappropriate long-term use
• Anna Hancock, Lead Nurse for bladder and bowel care, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

13:50 – 14:20 Moderated Panel Q&A

14:20 – 14:30 Chair’s closing remarks and key learning points