Services

Children's Continence Service

Locala Children’s Continence Service offers advice, investigations, information and treatment for children/young people who are experiencing common childhood continence problems from 0 to 19 years old.

We accept referrals from health professionals, GPs, hospital consultants, social care and education.

We work alongside other professionals, ie health visitors, school nurses and bowel and bladder specialist nurses.

We see children/young people who have problems with:

  • Day wetting.
  • Night time wetting.
  • Chronic constipation.
  • Children who are not toilet trained due to a physical, behavioural or learning disability.
  • Children who are not able to become toilet trained and need continence products.

What we do

The Children’s Continence Service offers support to children and young people with their daily bowel and bladder management within Kirklees.

We work Mon to Fri 08:00 to 17:00, excluding bank holidays.

North Kirklees we cover bladder, bowel support and continence products.

South Kirklees we cover bowel support and continence products.

We offer a comprehensive initial evidence based assessment then follow up with face to face and phone appointment continence clinics.

After assessment of continence needs we provide a treatment plan agreed with parents and child to promote continence.

We will review children at home or school and attend meetings if it is felt to be appropriate.

Care plans can be provided to support children within education settings.

We provide training for health and education professionals. We offer 4 half day study periods.

Our team is also available to offer advice and support to health care professionals.

What we don't do

We do not provide advice/support for children who have wetting day or night and live in South Kirklees, these children need to be referred to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Community paediatric team. You can call them on 01484 343477.

We do not accept referrals directly from parents. The first step as a parent/carer with concerns is to contact your health professional. They can offer advice and decide if the childs health needs are best met by the continence service.

What Our Patients Say

"Excellent service discussed techniques for toilet training and very supportive."


"Ruth is very professional but very warm and funny."


“I feel that Susan and Cath, two lovely ladies who I have received telephone calls from, both were very friendly and listened to everything I had to say and could feel they appreciated everything I said.”


"After trying other routes, I was relieved to get some amazing, quality advice and to speak to somebody that wasn't "robotic" - Thank you Ruth for listening.


"My sons incontinence nurse is amazing and always goes above and beyond to support not just my son but us as a family. She genuinely cares. She is professional, buy kind and caring too and she is very knowledgeable."

Meet the Team

We are a small team of 3 experienced clinicians with admin support and are the proud winners of the Bladder and Bowel Enuresis Award 2020.


Ruth Farnell (right) is a children’s nurse and registered adult nurse who now specialises in children’s continence. Ruth has practised within community nursing and special needs schools, she will complete initial assessments with you and your child and then provide ongoing support.


Susan Oates (left) is a registered adult nurse and also a specialist public health practitioner who now specialises in children continence. Susan has experience of working in a community setting with children and families.

She will complete initial assessment with you and your child and then provide ongoing support.


Sarah Brier (centre) was previously a child development practitioner with 0-19 team. She has a wide experience of working with children, families and multi-agency working. A key aspect of Sarah’s role is to use her extensive knowledge to support children and families with delayed toilet training from age four. Sarah supports children in clinic and school settings.

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