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WOUND CARE
evidence-based continence care
i
Influencing UK-wide clinical,
professional and political
developments in the field of
continence care policy. The
ACA have representation on
the following national groups;
NHS England Excellence in
Commissioning Continence
Care (EICC), All Party
Parliamentary Group (APPG),
Expert LUTs Group, Paediatric
Continence Form (PCF),
Nursing Times, Scottish
NES modules
i
Promoting safe, high quality
continence services that reflect
UK-wide policy developments.
from your peers will give you
exactly what you need.
The ACA, through its strong
multi-professional membership,
its local branches, national and
regional conferences and study
days, will be an asset to you.
Whether you are a continence
advisor for your area, or someone
working in your chosen area with
an interest in continence, the ACA
could well be for you.
The ACA — enabling healthcare
organisations to flourish and grow
A
re you a healthcare
professional working in
the area of continence
or urology, or is continence
management a large proportion
of your workload? If yes, have
you heard of the Association for
Continence Advice (ACA) and
have you thought of becoming
a member?
The ACA is a multi-professional
association open to all health and
allied care professionals who are
working within, or have an interest
in the field of bladder and
bowel management.
The ACA started in 1980 with
a questionnaire sent to every
health authority and board in the
UK seeking to identify concerned
healthcare professionals. At
that time, there were only 19
nurses in the UK identified as
continence advisors; now most
NHS trusts and many private
healthcare organisations have
staff designated as continence
specialists. As continence care has
changed, so too has the complexity
of members’ backgrounds; with
physiotherapists, occupational
therapists, midwives, hospital,
general practice and district
nurses, health visitors, lecturers,
researchers, NHS managers,
healthcare assistants, nursing
homes and doctors increasingly
represented alongside the central
core of continence specialists.
Not everything is always as
it seems and there are many
instances where professional help
Profile
Patrica McDermott, chair,
Association for Continence Advice (ACA)
Patricia McDermott explains how the ACA is setting the standard for
excellence and innovation in continence care today.
8
UROLOGY AND CONTINENCE CARE TODAY
2018,Vol 1, No 1
If you are interested in joining the
ACA now,
the first six months’
membership are free,
simply go to our Join Us page:
www.aca.uk.com/about-aca/Or
if you would like to attend the ACA’s
annual conference,
details can be found at:
www.aca.uk.com/about-aca/‘The ACA is a multi-
professional association
open to all health and
allied professionals who are
working within, or have an
interest in the field of bladder
and bowel management. It
works to promote safe, high
quality continence services
that reflect UK-wide
policy developments.’
The key objectives that the ACA
work towards are:
i
Representing the interests
of the multi-professional
membership by communicating
effectively, for example, through
its newsletters and website
i
Leading educational activity
and supporting research
development within
the organisation
i
Initiating projects and engaging
with internal or external groups,
organisations or companies;
and likewise, contributing to
projects that aim to maximise