Urology & Urinary Incontinence
The Paediatric Urology Team at John Hunter Children's Hospital provides specialist care to children and young people who have issues with their bladder, kidneys or external genital area. While our team cares for common paediatric urological conditions, such as bedwetting and urinary tract infections, our expertise also extends to many complex conditions urological problems.
The Children's Hospital Urology Service also has a close working relationship with the General Surgical Service, Paediatric Rehabilitation Service for faecal incontinence, Maternal Foetal Medicine Unit at John Hunter Hospital, along with the John Hunter Hospital adult Urology Service.
Urology services and parent resources
Who do we see?
We see children up to 16-years-of-age who have:
- Structural problems with their bladder or kidneys. These problems may have been noticed before they were born, or when they were born.
- Following abnormal ultrasounds of the bladder or kidneys.
- Abnormalities of the penis, testes and external genitals.
- Leakage of urine in the day for children who are more than 4-years-old.
- Leakage of urine (bedwetting) in children who are more than 6-years-old.
- Repeated urinary infections with lower urinary tract symptoms.
- Rare tumours and abnormalities of the urinary tract.
What do we do?
- Use a small camera to look at the inside of the urinary tract (cystoscopy) to get information that helps treat your child.
- Open and keyhole surgery.
- Tests for urine leakage.
- Support for children who need clean intermittent catheterisation.
- Provide help with bed wetting alarms.
- Advice, support and counselling for parents and children who have urinary leakage.
Information sheets
Before surgery
Parents arrive with their children for surgery on Ward J2 (Day stay). Appropriate fasting times would have been explained prior to arrival. You will be met by the nursing team on the ward and prepared for theatre which includes being admitted, weighed, and given medications if required.
The surgical team will attend your child and check consent is obtained and the surgical site is marked when required and answer any questions you may have. The anaesthetic team will also attend and ensure your child is ready for the anaesthetic. They will usually talk about recovery from the anaesthetic and pain relief.
One parent is allowed to be with the child in the anaesthetic room while the child is anaesthetised. Carers will then be shown where to wait outside the operating theatre where you will be met by the surgical team after the operation is finished.
What happens after surgery?
After surgery your child will go to the recovery ward with one parent brought in to be with your child prior to going back to the day stay ward (J2) or if staying overnight to ward J1 or J2.
From there once recovery is complete your nurse will discharge your child with all relevant postoperative information including incision care, pain relief, medications and follow up appointments.
Hand hygiene
To reduce the risk of infection for your child we ask all parents and visitors to wash their hands every time they enter the wards.
How does my child get a referral?
Your GP is able to make a referral to the service. The referral can be made out to the Paediatric Urology Service.