Fiona Boorman - Paediatric Bladder & Bowel Specialist Nurse Expand Fiona started working with disabled children at 12, when she was a volunteer in a children’s home and later in a Scope Grammar School. This led her to a career in nursing children, initially at Great Ormond Street, London. Fiona explored various other areas of nursing whilst bringing up her own, now grown-up four children, including nursing the elderly. 10 years as a Special School Nurse got her hooked on continence. She realised that too many children were not given the opportunity to achieve this fundamental skill but with the desire, joined-up working and some crazy ideas, she could make it work for most. Fiona went on to undertake both Adult and Paediatric Continence modules. When she is not working, Fiona still seems to talk poo and wee with anyone who will listen! She also enjoys anything arty crafty (see her wonderful Wee and Poo knitting patterns!) and pottering around gardens, enjoying nature. Fiona has produced a series of videos designed to educate school staff about bladder and bowel health: Read more and view the videos here.
Kate Bourdeaux – Paediatric Continence Clinical Nurse Specialist Team Leader Expand Kate started her nursing career in Cardiff in 1992 and graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) and Paediatric Registered Nurse in 1996. She is experienced at looking after children and young people in both hospital and community settings with acute and chronic conditions. Her previous substantial renal nursing background formed the foundation for her growing interest in the field of Paediatric Continence. Since 2011 Kate has worked as a Paediatric Specialist Continence Nurse at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, looking after children with complex continence requirements and interventions. She gained experience as a Paediatric Clinical Research Nurse before her appointment as the lead nurse for the Paediatric Continence Community Service in Cardiff in 2016.She is actively involved in developing integrated Paediatric Continence Community Services across Cardiff & Vale and manages a team of continence nurses. The service cares for children with bladder and bowel dysfunction and promotes early intervention, potty training/toilet training and toilet training children with additional needs. The service also assesses eligibility for continence products in line with national guidance.Kate is a member of the All Wales Continence Forum and is committed to developing policy, clinical pathways and providing education and training to improve services.In her free time she enjoys being with her family and pursues her creativity in the form of arts, singing and cooking. Her Cornish origins and family draw her to the coast at every opportunity.
Charmaine Champ - Continence Consultant and Trainer Expand Charmaine is a Registered Nurse in Learning Disabilities (RNLD Diploma in Health and Social Work), with a BSc (Hons) Community Nurse Specialist Practice Degree and a Diploma in the Promotion of Continence and Management of Incontinence, achieving: Positive Practices in Behavioural Support IABA. She is the author of two books and has over 21 years’ experience in supporting adults, children who have a learning disability, autism, complex needs and special educational needs, as well as children of all ages - and their families – within a multidisciplinary approach, to achieve toileting success. Charmaine has worked as a Continence Consultant and Trainer in clinics, nurseries, pre-schools, mainstream schools, special educational needs schools and care homes as well as supporting families and care staff with individual children, within the family home. She has developed skills in alternative communication approaches, motivating children with behavioural approaches, incorporating sensory approaches, offering dietetic advice, reviewing toileting equipment with occupational therapists and social services and overcoming toilet access obstacles. Charmaine is passionate about promoting dual bowel and bladder continence and toileting success, because of the great benefits it brings to the child in terms of self-esteem, readiness for learning, health and hygiene and because of the social and economic benefits it brings to families and carers, in addition to reduced physical demands in caring.
Brenda Cheer - Paediatric Specialist Continence Nurse & ERIC Nurse Expand Brenda started her nursing career in London in 1983. After her general training Brenda specialised in children’s nursing, and over the years has worked with adults and children, in London and Cardiff in both hospital and community settings. Since 2002 she has focussed on paediatric continence, working as Paediatric Specialist Continence Nurse at the University Hospital of Wales until summer 2018. Brenda currently works two days a week as ERIC Nurse, the first person to take on this role, originally funded by the Department of Health. She works a further day a week as Paediatric Continence Nurse for Shine: Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus Information, Networking and Equality. The ERIC Nurse post was created to seek ways to improve early intervention into childhood continence problems. Brenda strives to increase awareness of children’s bladder and bowel health, by designing easy-to-understand information for parents and providing training for health care professionals and early year’s workers. She has produced a generic Children's Continence Pathway, which ERIC is promoting as a model of best practice. The ERIC Nurse project won a prestigious Nursing Times Award in 2016, and has stimulated articles in the nursing press. Brenda has re-written many of the ERIC leaflets, and is enjoying working at the heart of the charity she supports. When she is not busy with her regular jobs, Brenda is much in demand as a freelance trainer and speaker. In her rare moments of spare time she enjoys the company of her three children and her husband John, a musician and music therapist.
Sharon Farey - Independent Nurse, Paediatric Bladder & Bowel Care Advisor/Trainer Expand Sharon started her nursing career at Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge and qualified RGN in 1983. She has worked in a variety of adult and paediatric settings and in the last 15 years has worked in primary care, initially as a Community Nurse and Nurse Practitioner, then as a Public Health School Nurse. As a School Nurse, Sharon has recently completed a secondment specialising in the treatment of school age children’s bladder and bowel continence issues. She has become a passionate ambassador of providing “an equitable continence service for all children so they can have the joys of childhood without the worries of bladder and bowel problems”. Sharon has joined ERIC as a trainer on our Early Intervention Programme and hopes her enthusiasm will help inspire change. She also works as an independent bladder and bowel Nurse Advisor supporting children, families and specialist teams with all aspects of continence. When not working, Sharon enjoys playing the saxophone and flute with her daughter, whilst their dog tries to sing along too!
Clare Hatherley - Senior Specialist Paediatric Bladder & Bowel Care Nurse Expand Clare qualified as a children’s nurse in 1996. She initially worked in hospitals, firstly in London and then at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. In 2001 Clare moved into school nursing, working in the community to support children and families with a wide range of issues, including bladder and bowel care. This led to her passion for supporting children and young people with continence difficulties. Since 2013 Clare has worked as a specialist nurse in paediatric bladder and bowel care in Devon. The team provides a county-wide service for children with bladder and/or bowel dysfunction. This involves assessing and treating a range of continence issues from constipation to more complex conditions such as neuropathic bladders and bowels. Clare completed the module 'Care of the child with bladder and/or bowel dysfunction' at Nottingham University in 2015. When not at work Clare enjoys spending time with her family and friends, swimming and going to the gym.
Dr Anne Wright - Consultant Paediatrician Expand Dr Anne Wright MBBCh, MRCPCH, MSc Comm Paeds is the lead consultant in charge of the Children’s Bladder Clinic at the Evelina Children’s Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Anne works closely with the Nephro-Urology and Paediatric Neurology departments covering the full spectrum of bladder disorders from severe resistant enuresis to neuropathic bladders. She is responsible for paediatric urodynamic investigation within the service. Anne also works closely with her gastroenterology colleagues to manage children with joint bladder and bowel dysfunction. She works one day a week in the community in Southwark with responsibility for the bladder and bowel clinic, as well as physical and learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental disorders (autistic spectrum disorders, ADHD) and child protection. Anne is ERIC's President, having formerly been chair of ERIC's Professionals Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the board of the International Children’s Continence Society.
Dr Chinnaiah Yemula - Consultant Paediatrician Expand Dr Chinnaiah Yemula MBBS, DCH, MD, MRCPCH has worked as a Consultant Community Paediatrician in Bedford since January 2001. He is the lead paediatrician for a number of services such as enuresis, ADHD, autism and sleep disorders in children and adolescents. He has led audit projects, developed local guidelines and established standards to facilitate a child-centred service in the community. Dr Yemula delivers training on the management of enuresis nationally to large groups, including paediatricians, GPs, continence nurse specialists and school nurses. His engaging, energetic style always make his interactive sessions very popular. In addition, he has given talks regionally and nationally about the management of complex ADHD, psychoeducation and sleep disorders. He is passionate about patient education, which is fundamental to empowering children and families to achieve the best possible outcomes. He is immensely grateful to the children, parents and professionals who have helped him develop numerous publications, including leaflets, books and flip charts about enuresis, ADHD, epilepsy and sleep problems. Some of his publications and articles about enuresis include: Bedwetting in children and young people: A simple guide for parents (2nd edition) Enuresis in children and young people: A teaching aid, 3rd edition, 2015 (flip chart for health professionals) The tap in the kidney concept, 2012 (leaflet for children) The glass and water bottle concept, 2012 (leaflet for parents) Everything a child needs to know about bedwetting (story book for children aged 6 to 12 years) (2nd edition) Yemula C (April 08) Management Techniques in Childhood Enuresis, Continence Essentials, Volume 1, 89-93 Yemula C (2007) Assessing Patients' Satisfaction with an Enuresis Service, Continence UK, Volume 1, No 4, pp. 31-36. Dr Yemula's interactive book about bedwetting 'How Does a Bedwetting Alarm Help?' was published in October 2016 and is available to download from Itunes.