Children with Bladder and Bowel Conditions Face Severe Waiting Times, FOI Data Reveals
Over 1.5 million children in the UK—roughly 1 in 9—are affected by bladder and bowel conditions, yet access to specialist care remains a "postcode lottery" with waits of up to 104 weeks for initial assessment.
Key Findings from NHS Trust Data
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to more than 160 NHS trusts in England have uncovered significant delays and disparities in care for children with bladder and bowel conditions.
Waiting times for initial assessments vary dramatically across the country:
- 104 weeks in Yorkshire
- 70 weeks in West Middlesex
Regional Backlogs
- Sussex: Nearly 700 children awaiting support
- Cambridgeshire: Over 500 children with special educational needs on the waiting list
- Hampshire and the Isle of Wight: Nearly 500 children waiting
Deteriorating Services
45% of surveyed trusts reported offering a dedicated children's continence service, while 40% said they do not. One in five trusts confirmed that services have been closed, reduced, or restructured in recent years.
These cuts include restricting access for younger children or raising the age criteria for continence products.
Hundreds of children are being supported by adult continence services for basic needs—East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust alone is supporting 872 children this way.
The Cost of Delay
Without early intervention, these conditions—which include bedwetting, daytime incontinence, and chronic constipation—can become more difficult to treat.
Delayed access increases the risk of infections, long-term complications, and negative effects on mental wellbeing.
Expert Voices
"The charity's helpline receives many calls from families seeking support, but the charity cannot diagnose or provide medical advice."
— Sunni Liston, Paediatric Specialist Nurse at ERIC (children's bowel and bladder charity)
"Timely access to well-resourced specialist community nurse-led services would reduce social, emotional, and financial burden on families and be cost-effective for the NHS by reducing avoidable A&E admissions."
— Davina Richardson, Specialist Children’s Nurse at Bladder & Bowel UK
"Timely access to specialist care improves outcomes—delayed access can make conditions more complex."
— Alison Wileman, market access specialist at Essity (a continence care company)
A Postcode Lottery
The FOI data indicates fragmented care across England, with varying access dependent on where families live. This postcode lottery leaves many children without the timely, specialist support they need to manage conditions that profoundly affect their daily lives and long-term health.