Nurse-led Urology Clinic in Bundaberg – Sandra Ilett and Carla Kerr

• A nurse-led urology clinic is now operating at The Friendlies Medical Suites to provide an improved service for patients.Sandra Ilett and Carla Kerr from Community Nurse Service are available to see patients with bowel and bladder issues.

  – It was a “wraparound service” under the supervision of doctors.

  – Run by highly qualified, specialized nurses who can also provide education, support and help

  – Seeing people who might need to have a catheter removed or they might have a permanent catheter, and they need education on how to manage it, or if they have an incontinence problem of any sort.

  – Being seen in an outpatient setting saves people being admitted to the ward and reduces stress and anxiety for the patient.

Sandra has worked as a continence nurse for 25 years in a variety of settings and has worked independently in the community for five years.

Provides a service for people who have problems with their bowel and bladder across the whole lifespan, from small children right through to the elderly

Sandra’s connection with The Friendlies is a win-win for both organisations and patients. Her words:

“I previously only provided a domiciliary service where I visited consumers at home,” she said.

“Occasionally I come across people who don’t want a home visit or it’s totally inappropriate to do a home visit, so I started searching for a clinical space that I could use.

“At the same time, The Friendlies were looking to try and get a trial, where people who have a catheter after an operation, who need to come back to the hospital to have the catheter removed and make sure they’re okay … they were trying to get those people out of the wards into an outpatient setting.

“The two opportunities came together and we’re now offering the trial in an outpatient clinic.

“It’s mostly referral-based clients from the urologists and I can also arrange to meet people at The Friendlies if a home visit is not a suitable option.”

For more information, contact Community Nurse Service on 4126 2002

Sandra Ilett Continence Nurse | healthdirect