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What is the FINCH Service?
FINCH stands for Faecal INcontinence and Constipation Healthcare. The service is delivered by registered specialist nurses and consultants who have undertaken additional training in functions of the bowel. It is provided for people who have functional bowel disorders.
A functional bowel disorder means that the bowel does not work properly and can cause one or more of the following problems:
- Constipation
- Difficulty emptying your bowel
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Losing control of the bowel
- Pain when going to the toilet
- Leakage of stool from the back passage
- Abdominal bloating
- Following surgical bowel/ rectal resection
The Aim of the service is to:
- Provide advice and information
- Investigate and help treat your symptoms
- Prevent the problem worsening
- Give you advise on how to manage your bowel in the future
Services
What does the service offer?
The FINCH service offers a full pelvic floor assessment, investigations and treatments, these can include:
- Conservative therapies- including pelvic floor exercises, dietary and lifestyle advise, correct toilet positioning and medication titration.
- Biofeedback- a treatment directed to strengthen or re-coordinate the pelvic floor muscles
- Trans-anal irrigation (TAI)- using a specialised devise to clear the bowel
- Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)- a treatment for faecal incontinence
- Sacral nerve neuromodulation (SNM)- a surgical procedure for the treatment of faecal incontinence
Patient Information
Contacts
If you have any queries or concerns, you can contact the FINCH service on 0121 507 2497.
Monday-Friday between 8am-4pm.
Contact the FINCH secretary on 0121 507 3677.
Email: swb-tr.SWBH-GM-FINCH@nhs.net
For more information about disabled access for this service