Emma Chappel
BAUN President, Head of Nursing for Urology Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Medical technology continues to transform clinical practice, with some of the most meaningful progress emerging in female continence and incontinence care.
App-based bladder diaries, like NHS-endorsed Squeezy, allow women to track symptoms, pelvic floor exercises and triggers more accurately than traditional paper methods.
Digital tools for early assessment and ongoing management
These digital diaries integrate seamlessly into clinical consultations, enabling nurses to make more informed decisions and tailor conservative management plans more effectively. For patients, being able to see their progress clearly boosts motivation and reinforces a sense of control; both are essential for adherence and sustained improvement.
Advances in urodynamic technology have also enhanced diagnostic precision. Portable, wireless urodynamic systems reduce the invasiveness and discomfort historically associated with testing, while providing high-quality data that supports timely, accurate diagnosis.1 This shift not only improves patient comfort but also streamlines workflow for nurses, reducing setup time and enabling more flexible clinic models across NHS services.
These innovations are reshaping continence care into a more personalised, accessible and empowering experience
Innovative treatments
Tibial nerve stimulation devices, particularly home-based, wearable systems, have expanded access to neuromodulation for women with overactive bladder or urge incontinence.
These devices allow patients to complete therapy at home, improving convenience and reducing clinic burden while maintaining comparable efficacy to in-clinic stimulation.2 Nurses report that remote monitoring platforms linked to these devices support more efficient follow-up and earlier intervention when treatment adjustments are needed.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation has also benefited from biofeedback and virtual reality-enhanced training tools. They provide real-time visual cues that help women understand and correctly perform pelvic floor muscle exercises, an area where traditional verbal instruction alone can be challenging. Evidence shows improved technique, adherence and patient confidence when biofeedback is incorporated. 3
These innovations are reshaping continence care into a more personalised, accessible and empowering experience.3 For nurses, they offer opportunities to deliver more efficient, data-driven and patient-centred care. For women, they bring dignity, autonomy and improved outcomes, demonstrating the profound value of integrating technology into everyday clinical practice.
[1] International Continence Society. (2022). ICS Standards and Recommendations.
[2] Burton, C. et al. (2021). Neurourology and Urodynamics.
[3] Hay‑Smith, E. et al. (2022). ‘Making sense’ of urinary incontinence: A qualitative study investigating women’s pelvic floor muscle training adherence. https://tinyurl.com/6t5pupe7.
