Urology Outpatients
NHS Foundation Trust
Catheter Passport
Patient Held Record
Living with your Catheter
This booklet is for the patient that is
discharged home from hospital with a
short or long term catheter.
Patient information
(to be completed before discharge)
Completed by:
Date:
Hospital to home pack supplied:
YES / NO
If NO state reason:
Affix patient sticker
Consultant:
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Suitable for Community Catheterisation
YES / NO
District Nurse referral form sent
YES / NO
Community contacts
General Practitioner: Tel No:
Community Nurse: Tel No:
Urology contact if appropriate: Tel No: 01270 278086
Monday- Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
(excluding Bank Holidays)
There is an answer machine on this number. Please leave a
message including your full name, hospital number and contact
telephone number and one of the Nurse Practitioners will call
you back.
Prescribed equipment supplied by:
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What is a urinary catheter?
It is simply a flexible, hollow tube that sits in your bladder to drain
urine. The catheter is inserted into the urethra; found just above
the vagina in females or at the tip of the penis in males. Sometimes
an opening is made through the abdominal wall directly into the
bladder; this is known as a suprapubic catheter. It is held in place by
a small balloon filled with sterile water.
The catheter tube is attached to either a drainage bag that will
collect the urine and can be emptied regularly, or a catheter valve
that allows for regular emptying of the bladder.
Catheters are used for conditions where patients: cannot fully empty
their bladders; require time to allow a wound to heal; following
surgery; become acutely unwell or for urinary incontinence when all
other management options have failed.
How does a catheter work?
It allows urine to drain from the bladder into a drainage bag. There
are several different types and sizes of drainage bags available: leg
bags, belly bags and night drainage bags. Some systems replace
the need for a bag, for example, a catheter valve allows the bladder
to be emptied at regular intervals.
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Urethral catheters
The catheter is passed through the urethra (the hole through which
urine passes out of the body) into the bladder, where the urine is
stored. A small balloon is filled with sterile water to hold the catheter
in place. The end of the catheter is then attached to the drainage
bag.
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Suprapubic catheters
This drainage method involves an operation to form an artificial track
from the bladder to the outside of the stomach just below the belly
button. Subsequent changes of the catheter can be done at home.
The area around the insertion site must be cleaned daily with soap
and water and dried thoroughly.
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What are the risks of having a catheter?
There is an increased risk of developing a urine infection, due to
bacteria entering the bladder from inside or around the outside of
the catheter tube. It is very important that you follow the advice on
the following pages in order to reduce the risk of developing a urine
infection.
How can you reduce the risks?
Hand hygiene – always thoroughly wash and dry your hands
with soap and water before and after handling your catheter.
Dry your hands with a clean towel
Wash the area around where the catheter enters the body
twice a day with a mild soap and water. Remove any
debris on the catheter with soap and water; always clean
downwards away from the body, without pulling on the
catheter
Women should always wash the genital area from front to
back to prevent contamination from the back passage. Dry
the area thoroughly. Talc, bubble bath or creams should not
be used
Men should wash under the foreskin, if present and ensure it
is replaced over the end of the penis
Never disconnect your catheter bag when showering or
bathing
When emptying your drainage bag, ensure the outlet tap
does not touch the toilet/container. Dry the end of the tap with
tissues after emptying
Always use a fixation device to secure the catheter to your
leg.
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What drainage systems are available?
There are a number of different drainage systems available for your
catheter to be attached to. Your healthcare professional will discuss
with you the most appropriate option to match your needs and how
often to change the drainage bags.
Always empty the urine collection bag when two-thirds full of urine.
Leg drainage bags
Leg drainage bags are strapped to the leg, so they can be hidden
under clothing. Clean the re-usable catheter straps frequently. If a
carer is attaching the bag, ensure they wear disposable gloves.
Night drainage bags
This larger bag attaches to the end of the leg bag or valve to allow
free drainage overnight.
Use a new bag every night
Wash and dry your hands with soap and water. If a carer is
attaching the bag, ensure they wear disposable gloves
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How to connect your leg bag
Thoroughly wash and dry your hands with soap and water. Put on
gloves. With one hand-squeeze the end of the catheter with thumb
and forefinger (behind the funnel area) to reduce urine leakage.
AVOID TOUCHING THE ENDS OF BOTH THE BAG TUBING AND
THE CATHETER. With other hand disconnect the used bag from the
catheter with a gentle twisting movement.
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Remove the protective cap from new sterile leg bag and connect
new leg bag into the indwelling catheter straight away. Place the
protective cap onto the used drainage bag.
Secure the new bag using the chosen method of support. Empty the
urine from the old leg bag into the toilet or receptacle and dispose of
the bag. Thoroughly wash and dry your hands with soap and water.
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How to connect your night bag
Thoroughly wash and dry your hands with soap and water. Put on
gloves. Ensure that the leg bag is empty of urine before attaching
the night bag. Remove protective cap from the disposable, single
use, drainable.
Insert night bag connector firmly into the outlet drainage tube of the
leg bag. Remove leg bag fixation straps or bag support sleeve to
allow free drainage of urine.
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Open leg bag tap or valve tap to allow urine to flow into the night
drainable collection bag.
Secure the drainable night bag on to the bed bag stand and ensure
that it is positioned lower than the bladder to assist drainage and
prevent backflow of urine. Ensure that the catheter is never pulled
by any drainage bag. Thoroughly wash and dry your hands with
soap and water.
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Catheter valve
Alternatively a catheter valve can be attached directly to the end of
the catheter and can be opened at regular intervals to empty the
bladder.
Open the valve and empty your bladder when:
Your bladder feels full
First thing in the morning
3-4 hourly during the day
During the night if needed
Prior to opening your bowels
A night drainage bag may be attached overnight
Only disconnect the leg bag or valve when it is being
replaced with a new one.
How often will my catheter need changing?
Your healthcare professional will advise you how often your catheter
needs changing and how to arrange for supplies to be delivered to
your home.
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What should my urine look like?
Urine should be a clear, light yellow colour. If it is orange/
dark brown/murky you may need to drink more fluids. Try to
drink 1.5 -2 litres in 24 hours – about 8 mugs
Avoid drinking caffeine where possible, as this can irritate
your bladder. Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, cola and
drinking chocolate. Try decaffeinated drinks instead
If you wake during the night, try and have a drink
If your urine has specks of blood in it, please contact your
community nurse or GP
Some foods, medication or vitamins may change the colour
of your urine. Beetroot will make the colour of your urine
darker; effervescent vitamin C will make it fluorescent yellow.
Check with your healthcare professional if concerned
If you are passing bright red blood, please contact
your GP immediately.
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What should you do if your catheter is not draining or
starts leaking?
Ensure the drainage bag is below the level of the bladder
Check the tubing has not become kinked, twisted or pulled
tight
Check the drainage bag is connected correctly and that the
valve is open if in use.
The leg bag straps should always be positioned behind the
leg bag tube
Check how full the bag is – it should always be emptied once
it is two-thirds full or drainage will be restricted
Are you constipated? This may prevent good drainage – seek
advice from your healthcare professional or GP
Alter your position; walk around if possible
Check that the valve or leg bag is open when connected to
the night bag
Never try and remove a catheter yourself
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When should you seek help?
Contact your GP/District nurse as soon as possible if:
You experience acute lower abdominal or tummy pain
Urine is not draining and you have followed the simple selfhelp measures within this booklet
The catheter falls out (suprapubic catheters need to
be replaced without delay). Please contact your GP or
healthcare professional as soon as possible
There is blood in your urine
Urine is cloudy, smelly or you have a burning sensation,
which does not improve after drinking extra fluids
Urine is leaking around the catheter, enough to make your
clothing wet
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Can I still go on holiday?
Your social life should not be affected.
If you plan to swim, a catheter valve may be used; please discuss
this with your healthcare professional. Always take some products
in your hand luggage when traveling by plane, just in case your
luggage gets lost.
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Can I still have sex?
Just follow the steps below:
Wash the area around the catheter before and after
intercourse
Men need to fold the catheter along the erect shaft of the
penis and apply a condom
Women should tape the catheter to the stomach
Lubricating jelly may help during love making
A suprapubic catheter or intermittent catheterisation may be
preferable for those with an active sex life
Ask your healthcare professional for further information.
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How will the community nurses support me?
On discharge the ward will give you a hospital to home discharge
pack containing drainage bags and a night stand to accompany this
passport.
If you live in your own home you will be referred to your District
Nursing Service.
The district nurse attached to your GP surgery will be contacted and
given your details.
Please contact them in the first instance if you have any problems
with your catheter.
If you live in a nursing home, the nursing home staff will be
responsible for the ongoing management of your catheter and
ensuring you are prescribed the appropriate equipment from your
GP.
Out of Hours District Nursing Service contact numbers:
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Catheter Change History
Reason for
Date of
Date of Problems during
catheterisation insertion next
catheterisation
planned
change
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Questions? Make a note here
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Questions? Make a note here
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This leaflet is available in audio, large print, Braille and
other languages. To request a copy, please telephone
01270 278086.
Urology Outpatients
Leighton Hospital
Middlewich Road
Crewe, Cheshire
CW1 4QJ
Direct Line: 01270 278086
www.mcht.nhs.uk
Printed on paper sourced from sustainable forests.
IMPRESSIONS DESIGN & PRINT 01270 767661
Revised and Reprinted November 2016 Review November 2018 • Ref: SC/MHU/0131116