The Bladder & Bowel UK Professional Symposium
Midlands 2025
Coventry Building Society Arena
Judds Lane Coventry
CV6 6GE
Thursday 25th September
The Bladder & Bowel UK Symposium provides healthcare professionals with an excellent opportunity to receive relevant education from national speakers.
The event includes a brand new programme of inspirational lectures, multi-disciplinary discussions and case studies to influence best practices, together with an extensive exhibition including company representatives and charitable services.
Speakers & sessions
Meet our adult and paediatric expert speakers
Attending the symposium will contribute to NMC revalidation and CPD for other healthcare professionals with an official certificate of attendance is provided.
Adult stream
Urine luck
Jacq Emkes
Independent Patient Advocate
Jacqueline, a secondary mathematics teacher, faced a series of complex medical challenges beginning in 2009, leading to multiple operations on her kidney, ureter, and bladder, followed by spinal surgery. Determined to improve awareness and enhance patient care, she has co-authored key guidelines, including Excellence in Continence Care and NICE Guidelines on Women’s UI and POP, while actively contributing to academic research as a patient expert. This presentation will provide a fast-paced overview of her medical journey, explore potential solutions, and offer insights—with a touch of humour along the way.
Neurogenic bowel following SCI
Carol Adcock
SCI Specialist Nurse – Spinal Injuries Association
Description of Neurogenic bowel presentations and management. Challenges in care delivery and how to overcome them.
The debate: Are we at a turning point in the treatment of bowel dysfunction?
Get involved as delegates are split into two groups to explore whether we are at a crucial turning point in the world of bowel dysfunction. Together, we’ll examine recent journals, clinical tools, applied thinking, service examples, and the growing awareness and acceptance of bowel symptoms and treatments. Let’s spark fresh conversations for the future – and make your vote count as we debate what’s important moving forward.
Avoidance of defecation in school toilets and the development of IBS in later life
Dr Aidan Richards
Foundation Doctor – Cardiff University School of Medicine
We investigated the presence of a link between avoidance of school toilets and the emergence of IBS in later life. A retrospective cohort study focusing on diagnosis of IBS, ROME-IV symptoms, symptom profile and recall of school toilet behaviours and quality. Avoidance rates of those with an official IBS diagnosis was 51.2% (n=82) compared with 26.7% in those without- OR 2.89 (p0.001). We propose that a public health approach led by the appropriate governing and education bodies to improve school toilet facilities and the attitudes of staff, children and parents towards healthy defecation habits is needed to ultimately minimise IBS.
What’s happening in bladder and bowel research and national resources
Professor Nikki Cotterill PhD BSc(Hons) RN FRCN
Professor of Nursing in Continence Care, Centre for Health and Clinical Research, UWE Bristol and BABCON HIT Director, Bristol Health Partners AHSC
Medication for overactive bladder
Julia Thrush
Bladder & Bowel Clinical Nurse Specialist -Nottingham City Care Partnership CIC
The session will explain the range of drug treatments available in the UK for treating overactive bladder and their mechanism of action, and therefore the side effects, helping clinicians to choose the most appropriate medication for individual patients.
Menopause and incontinence
Dr Angie Rantell PhD, ALNO
Consultant Nurse, Urogynaecology – King’s College Hospital
Over 50% of postmenopausal women experience some degree of urinary incontinence. This lecture explores the complex relationship between menopause and urinary incontinence, shedding light on how hormonal changes impact pelvic health. Attendees will gain insight into the physiological mechanisms behind estrogen decline, its effect on bladder control, and the prevalence of incontinence among postmenopausal individuals. The session will also cover evidence-based treatment options from lifestyle modifications to medical interventions.
Paediatric stream
Delivering CIC training to staff in a mainstream schools
Jane Thomas
Paediatric Continence Clinical Nurse Specialist Complex Needs Continence – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
This talk is an account of the challenges I faced when attempting to initiate and carry out CIC training for staff at a mainstream primary school. I will touch on the involvement of the Senior Leadership team and the board of Governors, and their reasons for refusing training, as well as the legislation for ensuring that all children in school settings have their medical needs managed appropriately.
Knowing me, knowing bowels
Meet Rachael. She takes us on her own journey of knowledge, experience and feelings to understand what’s important in her daughter’s bowel care and treatment.
Avoidance of defecation in school toilets and the development of IBS in later life
Dr Aidan Richards
Foundation Doctor – Cardiff University School of Medicine
We investigated the presence of a link between avoidance of school toilets and the emergence of IBS in later life. A retrospective cohort study focusing on diagnosis of IBS, ROME-IV symptoms, symptom profile and recall of school toilet behaviours and quality. Avoidance rates of those with an official IBS diagnosis was 51.2% (n=82) compared with 26.7% in those without- OR 2.89 (p0.001). We propose that a public health approach led by the appropriate governing and education bodies to improve school toilet facilities and the attitudes of staff, children and parents towards healthy defecation habits is needed to ultimately minimise IBS.
Safeguarding children with bladder and bowel conditions
Dr Catriona Morrison
Consultant Paediatrician – Tayside
This talk will provide context for child protection in children with continence problems, and outline typical scenarios when child protection concerns arise in children with bladder and bowel dysfunction. It will seek to raise awareness of the prevalence of child protection concerns in this group, and set out some strategies to aid recognition and management.
Incontinence in children and young people including findings of URApp project
Carol Joinson
Professor of Developmental Psychology – University of Bristol Medical School
Dr. Lucy Beasant
Senior Research Associate – Beliefs, Behaviours and Health Research Group
This talk will summarise the findings of a 3-year project funded by the Medical Research Council, which examined the links between mental health, adversity and incontinence. The project found evidence of bidirectional relationships between mental health problems and incontinence and also examined possible causal pathways between adversity and incontinence. The talk will also describe the findings of a study which evaluated how URApp could be embedded in paediatric continence clinics.
Ketamine and effects on the bladder
Mo Belal
Consultant Urological Surgeon -University Hospitals Birmingham
I will explore the rising clinical challenge of ketamine-associated uropathy, focusing on the damaging effects of recreational ketamine use on the bladder. Drawing on current evidence and real-world clinical cases, I will outline the typical presentation, pathophysiology, and progression of ketamine-induced cystitis and its overlap with bowel dysfunction. I will discuss diagnostic strategies, multidisciplinary management approaches, and long-term outcomes. The session will highlight the importance of early recognition, patient engagement, and collaboration with addiction services to prevent irreversible damage and improve quality of life for this growing patient population.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in children
Dr Hema Kannappan
Consultant Paediatrician – University Hospital of Coventry & Warwickshire
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder in which the bowel appears structurally normal, but its motility (movement) and nerve sensitivity are altered.
In children, IBS is a chronic or recurrent condition characterised by abdominal pain associated with changes in bowel habits.
The exact cause is not fully understood, but contributing factors may include diet, gut brain axis dysregulation and other factors.
IBS in children is a clinical diagnosis — no single definitive test.
Treatment is multifactorial and tailored to each child with dietary management being an important approach.
A national update
Davina Richardson
Children’s Specialist Nurse – Bladder & Bowel UK
Delegate testimonials
Don’t take our word for it
Incredible – brings a whole new level of enthusiasm, and it’s so great for networking. Thank you so much – it is always great and I look forward to the symposia every year.
Paediatric Bladder and Bowel Nurse
Affordable – so many courses and events are expensive, but this one is accessible and great value.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
I always enjoy attending these sessions and go away with new knowledge & ideas on how to improve my own service.
Specialist Nurse
I love it when presenters include photos of pathologies, detailed diagrams, or images of medical devices—it makes the topic so much more engaging and easier to grasp, especially when it’s outside my area of expertise”
Continence Physiotherapist
The insights on nurse education development and effective training were invaluable, as was the session on supporting education staff with CIC and medical needs. Fantastic event – I’ll definitely be attending the next one!”
Community Nurse
The Pelvic Floor School was incredibly passionate and inspiring. It motivated me to take the next step toward using external observations and to explore new ways of using our bladder scanner. Hearing directly from a Dad about his experiences with TAI during a case study session was particularly powerful and moving.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Concurrent educational streams provide delegates with the opportunity to access a broad adult or paediatric programme with intervals to explore an extensive exhibition including company representatives and charitable services.
Attending the symposium will contribute to 7 hours NMC revalidation and CPD for other healthcare professionals. An official certificate of attendance is provided at the end of the event.
The Symposium is aimed at a wide range of healthcare professionals, including specialists, urologist, general, children’s and school nurses, allied healthcare professionals and those who work in residential and care homes.
Parking at the arena is free for all delegates. A code will be sent to the email address associated with the registered ticket(s). Staff at the venue will also provide the code on the day if needed.
Included in the price is:
Breakfast refreshments – pastries, fresh fruit, tea and coffee.
Networking lunch – a buffet-style lunch is provided with drinks
Any dietary requirements can be specified during he booking process
Delegates are asked to remain in their chosen stream unless permission has been given prior to the event.
Yes, there is an extensive exhibition, where you will have several opportunities throughout the day to explore and speak with continence product reps and charitable services
Learn more about our Key Sponsor
Key Sponsor Qufora is a medical device company that works to enable people with chronic bowel disorders to live a better life. They are building a center of excellence to find solutions for people with bowel disorders, through innovation. Solutions that set new standards and make toilet routines as effortless and natural as possible for users.