Urinary Retention & Catheter Care
Walk-in / By appointment
Being unable to pass urine is painful and needs prompt care. The doctor examines you and uses a bladder scan to see how much urine is held. If needed, a trained clinician inserts a urinary catheter to drain the bladder, and you are referred to a urologist to find the cause.
If you already have a catheter, we can check one that is blocked, leaking or due for a change, and replace it where suitable. A catheter is never forced: if it cannot be passed easily, or an injury is suspected, you are sent to hospital. Planned catheter reviews and trials without a catheter are booked and arranged with your urologist.
- Assessment when you cannot pass urine
- Bladder scan
- Urethral catheter insertion and replacement
- Blocked or leaking catheters
- Catheter care advice
- Planned catheter reviews and trial without catheter, with your urologist
How it works
Assessment
The doctor asks about your symptoms and medicines, examines your tummy and checks for signs of infection.
Bladder scan
An ultrasound scan over the lower tummy shows how much urine is in the bladder.
Draining the bladder
If needed, a catheter is inserted using sterile technique and numbing gel to drain the urine.
Follow-up
You leave with catheter care advice and a urology referral or review date.
