Headline sponsor
Bladder & Bowel UK
National Symposium
North West 2026
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Etihad Stadium
Ashton New Road
Manchester, M11 3FF
The Bladder & Bowel UK National 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.
*Due to unforeseeable circumstances, some topics may change
Adult stream
Impact of incontinence on families and support networks
Sonya Carassik Ratty
Chief Executive, Bladder & Bowel UK
Faecal incontinence with a surgical perspective
Nick Heywood
Colorectal Consultant, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Insights from EndoFLIP in anorectal physiology
Matt Davenport
Pelvic Floor Research Fellow, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
App winner product innovation award – an app to support patients
Claire Thornber
Cauda Equina Champions Charity (Bladder & Bowel UK Product Innovation Award winner 2025)
Comfort Loop Project – A systems approach for sustainable absorbent hygiene products
Mark Miodownik
Professor of Materials & Society, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, UCL
Nocturia and Frailty
Dr Aine McGovern
Consultant in Medicine for the Elderly, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Women, urine incontinence and the disappearance of vesico-vaginal fistulae in nineteenth-century britain
Claire Jones
Senior Lecturer in the History of Medicine, University of Kent
BD session
coming soon
Paediatric stream
Ketamine cystitis in children – what we know so far
Harriet Corbett
Consultant Paediatric Urologist, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Psychological aspects of caring for a child with lower urinary tract dysfunction
Jacqueline Nicholson & Lucy Galvin
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
School Readiness – A collaborative approach in Northumberland
Vikki Booth
Public health nurse, Northumberland 0 – 19 service
Complex constipation management in children and teenagers
Sona Matthai
Consultant Paediatrician with an interest in Gastroenterology and Complex Care, Sheffield Children’s Hospital
The Big Toilet Project: toilet training research to reduce nappy waste
Mark Miodownik
Professor of Materials & Society, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, UCL
Genital examination in girls/children (with voiding dysfunction, why it is important, common conditions, when to seek advice)
Claire Ferguson
Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Anticholinergics in children
Arianna Mariotto
Paediatric Urologist, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Impact of incontinence on families and support networks
Sonya Carassik Ratty
Chief Executive, Bladder & Bowel UK
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 venue is free for all delegates.
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
Sponsors 2026
To sponsor the Bladder & Bowel UK National Symposium North West 2026 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, speak to a member of the marketing team – marketing@disabledliving.co.uk
Headline Sponsor BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies and at the forefront of advancing healthcare through innovative medical discovery, diagnostics, and care delivery.
Who can attend?
The Symposium is aimed at a wide range of healthcare professionals including specialist, urology, general, children’s and school nurses, allied healthcare professionals and those who work in residential and care homes.
How this Symposium is delivered
There will be concurrent educational streams providing delegates with the opportunity to access a broad adult and paediatric programme.
A light lunch is provided with intervals to explore an extensive exhibition including company representatives and charitable services.
Attending the symposium will contribute to NMC revalidation and CPD for other healthcare professionals. An official certificate of attendance is provided.