Complex Bowel Conditions and Care

While bowel management is a standard component of personal patient support, those at risk of constipation or incontinence require a greater level of care so that their quality of life is not adversely affected.

What is Complex Bowel Care?

Bowel care is a regular component of personal support that is imperative to a patient’s quality of life (NDIS 2018; NHS 2017).

However, a patient at high risk of severe constipation or faecal incontinence may require complex bowel care from healthcare staff with a specialised skill set (NDIS 2018).

This care must be proportionate and appropriate for each patient’s individual needs (NDIS 2020).

Complex bowel care may include:

• Observing and recording changes in a patient’s bowel habits;
• Administering treatments such as enemas and suppositories;
• Identifying when the patient needs to be referred to a practitioner;
• Administering non-routine medication; and
• Understanding that bowel health is highly personal for the patient and supporting them accordingly.