7.7 – Is using the toilet a fundamental human right?
This is an emotive question which was asked by our team when we became aware that in some areas it was practice to not offer the use of the toilet, or a toilet aid, but instead for the person to be told ‘you’ve got a pad on so just use the pad’
All members of our development team had real examples of this occurring. On exploring further we found that this can be common practice in some acute hospital wards, as well as home care situations and nursing and residential care homes
Reports are also common of having pads automatically put on when they are admitted to acute hospitals, even though the person does not usually wear pads.
A particular situation is the use of ‘overnight padding’ for people who live alone in the community and are unable to use a toilet without help. Putting on large, high absorbency all-in-one type pads in the early evening until the next day, despite the person being continent, has been reported as routine.
The Association for Continence Professionals was concerned about the apparent lack of attention to dignity in continence care and developed some Top tips for dignity and toileting (available in PDF format) for all health and social care staff.
Your task
Consider the question ‘is using the toilet a fundamental human right?’ in light of the real-life examples described above.
What are your views about what you have read?
Thinking about your learning in previous weeks, why do you think these practices occur?
How can these practices be changed and should this change happen?
What are your experiences of usual continence care? Write your views in your learning log and share them with fellow learners.