the association of continence advice

The Association of Continence Advice (ACA) is a multi-professional association opens to all health and allied care professionals and to those who have a concern for the promotion of continence and the better management of incontinence. The ACA started in 1980 with a questionnaire sent to every Health Authority and Board in the UK seeking to identify concerned professionals. At that time there were only 19 nurses in the UK identified as Continence Advisors; now most NHS Trusts and many private healthcare organizations have staff designated as continence specialists. The ACA are working towards the following key objectives: Represent the interests of our multi-professional membership by communicating effectively, for example, through its newsletter and website. Lead educational activity and support research development within the organization. Initiate projects and engage with internal or external groups, organizations or companies; and likewise, contribute to projects that aim to maximize evidence-based continence care. Influence UK wide clinical, professional and political developments in the field of continence care policy. Promote safe, high quality continence services that reflect UK wide policy developments. As continence care has changed, so too has the complexity of members’ backgrounds; with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, midwives, hospital, practice and district nurses, health visitors, lecturers, researchers, NHS managers, health care assistants, nursing homes and doctors increasingly represented alongside the central core of continence specialists. The number of overseas members has also increased, reflecting that the pioneering work of the early founders has gained recognition throughout the world. The ACA from time to time produce various publications, generally these include the Journal and notes on Good practice, there are also several other leaflets and general information sheets. These can be obtained through the ACA administration via Fit wise. The ACA Regional Groups are called BRANCHES and provide the local support for members. All groups are run by an elected volunteer committee of local members. The activity programs of the groups are varied; covering a mixture of clinical and professional issues and study days combined with social activities and provide an excellent opportunity for networking.