"Chronic constipation is something we're seeing far too often in our hospital clinics these days. It is something that can be dealt with effectively by parents with the help of their GPs before considering a specialist referral"
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust have put together this user-friendly video in response to the increasing number of parents who need help in managing their child with constipation.
Designed as a guide for both GPs and parents, this video is delivered by our fabulous 'poo nurses', as a step by step guide on how to spot the signs and symptoms of idiopathic childhood constipation and how this can be effectively managed with a Macrogal laxative.
We regularly hold parent workshops at our main acute hospital site in Dartford however the team wanted to spread this information even further.
We chose the video as a platform to spread the message not only locally, but nationally so parents can watch and learn how to manage this condition in their own time and we can reach many more parents than our group sessions could ever possibly reach.
As a common childhood condition, this is something that our paediatric staff are passionate about - keeping children well managed in primary care with the help of their GP, without the need to come into hospital. We want people to see the video and start talking about poo and their experiences of managing childhood constipation more.
We have created a website www.thepoonurses.uk which offers additional advice and support and also some useful links. Here you can also download the Bristol Stool Form Scale to help identify whether a child is constipated.
If you require any further information, or any advice on how we can spread this message wider, please get in touch.