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"THE CLICK"

This is the main purpose of our website. If you are only going to do one thing today to learn more about your child's constipation, then let it be watching our video.

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It will teach you everything you need to know in under 15 minutes

Our award winning video...

---------------------------Watch our 15 minute video to learn everything you will need to know in order to manage your child's condition at home. It includes information regarding your child's constipation, shows you how to mix the correct dose of medication, and talks you through your child's constipation journey.
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Note that all information on Macrogol doses refers to the paediatric preparations of Macrogol, which can be obtained as regular repeat prescriptions from your GP.

Click to Watch

Sandra Hanson (founder of service)

Sandra Hanson

Founder of the Childhood Constipation Service within the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, says:

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Dr. Shahinul Khan

Consultant Paediatrician at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, says: "Chronic constipation is something we're seeing far too often these days. It is something that can be dealt with effectively by parents with the help of their GPs."

" Constipation is perceived as a minor problem, easily solved by diet and fluids. Good advice for adults who will try hard to pass a poo, but the majority of children will do the complete opposite. This is why 1st line treatment is a prolonged course of laxatives to nip the problem in the bud and prevent a simple problem becoming a chronic problem that can affect the child's physical, social, emotional and psychological wellbeing and even impact on their education. I know you would all prefer not to medicate you children but it really is the best treatment and the earlier it is started, the quicker this problem is resolved."

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WHAT OUR SERVICE INCLUDES:

Comprehensive Assessment
​​Our team conducts thorough assessments to understand your child's unique needs and develop personalized treatment plans.
Ongoing Guidance
Once you have attended our education clinic appointment, your child will be under the care of the Childhood Constipation Service. You will have open-access to a dedicated nurse.
Psychological Support
If required, we can refer your child to other services such as Paediatric Psychology Service, or a Paediatric Consultant.
Medication Support
​​Our service includes medical interventions such as prescription medications and can liaise directly with your child's GP.
Ongoing Care & Support
​​We are committed to providing continuous support, monitoring progress, and adjusting treatment plans to achieve long-term relief for your child.
Parent/Carer Educational Clinics:
​​We empower parents/carers with essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage their child's constipation, fostering confidence and competence.
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About Us

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                                                                                                                                                                                                            We are small team working with children experiencing idiopathic constipation. Jemima is the service lead and a constipation nurse specialist, Amy is a constipation nurse specialist and Louise is the service co-ordinator. Constipation is a common childhood condition. It is prevalent in around 5-30% of children, sadly not many people take it seriously. Symptoms can become chronic in more than one third of patients. It is a common misconception that constipation in children can be easily managed with good diet fluids and exercise. This is not the case. There are many reasons that a child might not poo. The exact cause of constipation is often not known. However, contributing factors include, pain, fever, dehydration, dietary, fluid intake, psychological issues, toilet training, medicines and familial history of constipation. We have found that the biggest reason that constipation in childhood becomes chronic is fear!

Constipation is referred to as idiopathic if it cannot be explained by anatomical or physiological abnormalities. Constipation in children cannot be treated in the same way as it can with an adult. Adults will try their hardest to poo whereas children will use with-holding behaviours to prevent themselves from doing a poo. The NICE guidelines state that the first line of treatment of a child with constipation is the use of Macrogols, for example Movicol, laxido and cosmocol. Sadly in many of the referrals that we see, parents have not had the appropriate advice and guidance. This not only affects these poor children physically but also has a profound effect on them psychologically in all aspects of their life, including nursery and school life. As a child once said “it is not a life limiting condition but it is life ruining”

Our nurse led service provides help and support for parents / carers of children suffering from constipation with the emphasis on education. We aim to empower and enable parents / carers to manage their children themselves. Once we have received a referral for a child with constipation from a GP or Doctor we then invite the family to attend a 90 minute group education clinic virtually, via Microsoft Teams. This clinic provides lots of information and resources to help them understand their child’s condition and enables them to feel more confident in managing this during their day-to-day life.

Read more about our history, including the queen of poo herself ~ Sandra Hanson

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OUR CONTACT PROCEDURE

We understand that life is busy, but due to an ever-increasing caseload we will contact you as follows:

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  • We will contact you when your child's next review has been scheduled

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  • If we cannot make successful contact with you, we will text you to prompt contact regarding your child's progress.

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  • If we are still unable to make contact, you will be sent one further text message requesting you to contact us within 14 days.

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  • After this time, your child will be placed onto a Patient Initiated Follow-Up list. You will still have 12 months to contact us, should you require any advice or guidance.

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We receive a referral from either your child's GP or their consultant.

HOW OUR SERVICE WORKS

We will allocate you an initial clinic appointment. This will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams

PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to provide your email address so that a link can be sent to you in order to access your appointment.

This is a parental clinic, so your child does not need to attend.

Once you have attended your clinic appointment, a specialist nurse will contact you to discuss your child and their individual case of chronic constipation.

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At this point, your child's constipation care and treatment will be managed through close contact with a specialist nurse. Regular contact and reviews will take place as your child will now be under our care. We will always schedule the next review at the end of any contact we have with you.

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Meet the Poo Team

We are a small team, looking after over 400 children in the south east who are suffering with chronic constipation. We are based within the Children's resource centre, within Darent Valley Hospital.

Jemima Rowe

Childhood Constipation Service Lead

Specialist Paediatric Nurse

Amy Facey

Childhood Constipation Service

Specialist Paediatric Nurse

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Childhood Constipation Service

Louise Stapley

Administrator & Co-Ordinator

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WHAT PARENTS SAY

The compassionate approach and comprehensive care at the Childhood Constipation Service made a significant difference in our child's well-being.

The Childhood Constipation Service has been a game changer for our family. They provided invaluable support and guidance, and our child is now thriving.

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We are incredibly grateful for the expertise and care offered by the team. They truly understand the complexities of childhood constipation and provided tailored solutions.

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We are always looking to improve our service and ensure that you as parents/carers feel fully supported.
Feedback can help us to promote our service and help us reach out to a wider community to help other children suffering with constipation.
We value your opinion of our service and would be grateful for any comments you could send to us. Please click on the button to the right to email us your comments.
Thank you for supporting our service

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FEEDBACK

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Success Stories

CONTACT US

Where we are located
Opening Hours
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Monday - Friday: 9AM - 6PM

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   Email:

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