Bladder and Bowel Confidence (BABCON)
The Bladder and Bowel CONfidence Health Integration Team (BABCON HIT) aims to promote bladder and bowel continence for all in Bristol and the surrounding area.
Leakage from the bladder and bowel that cannot be controlled by individuals of all ages is more widespread than is often recognised.
- In the UK, over 14 million people experience bladder control problems and 6.5 million have bowel control difficulties.
- There are more than 900,000 children with continence conditions at any time.
These are the figures that we know about but there are likely to be many more people with symptoms who do not admit it as we do not tend to talk about it. Often people live with bladder and bowel control issues as they believe nothing can be done to improve their symptoms. However, advice and education can help people to improve their symptoms, cure them or learn to live as well as they can.
BABCON plan to achieve its aims through:
- enabling people to improve their symptoms through self-help,
- improving continence services including social care, community services, and inpatient hospital care,
- promoting continence education for the public and healthcare staff,
- undertaking high quality research and innovation to drive change,
- exploring the impact of environmental factors on people with bladder and bowel symptoms,
- challenging beliefs about incontinence.
Latest news and events
Local charity Above & Beyond will continue to support three HITs
17 February 2020
Three of Bristol Health Partners (BHP) Health Integration Teams (HITs) will receive a further £30,000 in funding from Above & Beyond to help improve the health and quality of life of Bristol communities. In 2019, Above & Beyond secured independent...
APPHLE HIT work leads to over 8,000 older people becoming more active
6 November 2019
Our Active Older People HIT and Active Ageing Bristol (AAB) are delivering the basis for a ‘prevention at scale’ programme through initiatives that help older people to be less isolated and to increase physical strength and mobility through combined fitn...
Bristol Health Partners supports photographic celebration of active living
22 August 2019
Photographs showing that age is no barrier to active living are on free outdoor display on Bristol’s College Green in August, as part of a new drive to persuade older people to make bolder keep fit choices.
2018-19 highlights from the Active Older People (APPHLE) HIT
16 May 2019
Professor Selena Gray and Karen Lloyd-Pyrke, Directors of the Active Older People Health Integration Team, give an update on their work in 2018-19.
HITs carers event offers information and support
13 May 2019
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) ran an event in April for ‘informal’ carers who provide substantial, unpaid care and support for family members or friends.
Bristol Health Partners to invest £176k in its Health Integration Teams
13 May 2019
Health Integration Teams (HITs) are set to benefit from £176k of investment from Bristol Health Partners in 2019-20. HITs requested funding from the partnership for a wide variety of projects, with the majority receiving funding.
Health and social care commissioners hear about HITs at special seminar
17 February 2019
Health and social care commissioners came together at City Hall for a special seminar to hear about the work of Health Integration Teams, attended by over 60 people.
Study finds community-based physical activities for older adults are suitable following joint replacement
28 January 2019
A study commissioned by the Active Older People Health Integration Team (APPHLE HIT) has found that community-based physical activities for older people are suitable for those who've had a joint replacement.
HITs with a focus on healthy, safe environments get together for a networking breakfast
12 October 2018
On Wednesday 3 October, Health Integration Teams (HITs) with a focus on healthy, safe environments got together for a networking breakfast at Lifeskills at the CREATE Centre in South Bristol.
Health Integration Teams secure nearly £1.5 million in the first quarter of 2018/19
24 September 2018
Bristol Health Integration Teams (HITs) have secured £1,438,000 of funding in the first quarter of 2018/19. This impressive contribution to the local health and care system is the result of efforts from a range of HITs.
Innovative research into the link between the urban environment and health urgently needed
6 September 2018
Researchers are calling for more innovative studies into the link between changes to urban neighbourhoods and their impact on residents’ mental health and wellbeing. The research team at the University of Bristol and NIHR CLAHRC West reviewed existing st...
Health Integration Teams attract nearly £4.7 million in 2017-18
15 June 2018
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) have attracted nearly £4.7 million in funding to the local health system in 2017-18.
2017-18 highlights from the Active Older People (APPHLE) HIT
2 May 2018
Professor Selena Gray, Director of the Active Older People Health Integration Team (APPHLE HIT), gives an update on their work in 2017-18.
Seminar on supporting service design and delivery showcases HIT achievements
7 February 2018
Five Health Integration Teams (HITs) presented their work aimed at keeping people out of hospital at a special lunchtime seminar on 5 February, to commissioners, project managers, researchers and people from the voluntary sector.
Joint Spatial Plan must address public health issues, Bristol Health Partners urges
17 January 2018
The Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) is a rare opportunity to plan for a healthier future for the West of England, but Bristol Health Partners believes that the latest version of the plan doesn’t address public health issues strongly enough.
HIT events stir debate at Healthy City Week 2017
8 November 2017
Creating a Bristol that works for people of all ages and abilities was at the core of Health Integration Team (HIT) events during Healthy City Week this year. Healthy City Week ran from 7-14 October, and included ‘HIT Monday’, as well as other HIT events...
How can we solve Bristol’s trickiest health and sustainability problems?
2 October 2017
Zoe Trinder-Widdess, Bristol Health Partners Communications Manager, on some of the Health Integration Team highlights from this year's Healthy City Week, which takes place 7-14 October 2017.
South Gloucestershire diabetes prevention pilot project poster win
7 July 2017
A poster showcasing the Active Older People (APPHLE) Health Integration Team (HIT) project evaluating the South Gloucestershire diabetes prevention pilot won best poster at the Faculty of Public Health annual conference and expo on 21-22 June 2017.
Active Older People HIT's achievements in 2016-7
8 May 2017
Professor Selena Gray and Dr Afroditi Stathi, Directors of the Active Older People Health Integration Team give an update on their work in 2016-2017.
HITs bring nearly £4m in funding to the region in last nine months
27 March 2017
Health Integration Teams (HITs) have brought £3,988,121 of funding to the region since July 2016. Some of these awards are for research, while others are for service innovation.
Bristol Health Partners and Health Integration Teams' contribution to Healthy City Week
14 September 2016
This year's Healthy City Week Bristol (15-22 October) will see a strong contribution from Bristol Health Partner organisations and Health Integration Teams (HITs). Not only is Bristol Health Partners the headline supporter for the week, but we are offeri...
Challenging the HITs to collaborate in new ways with Bristol Health Partnerology
13 July 2016
At the annual Health Integration Team (HIT) conference this year, HITs were challenged to find new ways to collaborate in the specially created Bristol Health Partner-opoly walking game.
Health Integration Team model evaluation paper published
1 July 2016
The results of NIHR CLAHRC West's preliminary evaluation of the ‘Health Integration Team’ model have been published in BMC Health Services Research.
Our 2015-16 annual review is out now
27 June 2016
Our 2015-16 annual review was launched at our annual Health Integration Team (HIT) conference on 17 June. The Bristol Health Partners annual review showcases the work of the partnership and includes updates from most of our 20 HITs and a round-up of the...
Achievements of the Active Older People HIT in 2015-16
31 May 2016
Professor Selena Gray and Dr Afroditi Stathi, Directors of the Active Older People Health Integration Team (APPHLE HIT) give an update on their work in 2015-16.
Bristol’s health experts come out in support of 20mph speed limits
15 March 2016
Bristol’s health and care community are showing their support for the city’s 20mph speed limits as the council debates the issue today (15 March). A public petition supporting the speed limits, which received more than 4,100 signatures from people in Bri...
Joint Health Integration Team response to West of England joint spatial plan
17 February 2016
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) have made a joint response to the West of England's joint spatial plan consultation. In response to housing pressure in the Avon sub-region, the area’s four local authorities, Bristol, North Somer...
South Gloucestershire diabetes prevention project launched
12 February 2016
The Public Health and Wellbeing Division in South Gloucestershire Council is running a pilot project aimed at supporting people aged up to 75-years-old, at high risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Pioneering study to help adults delay frailty and live independently for longer
11 January 2016
A major study, led by researchers from the Active Older People Health Integration Team (APPHLE HIT), has launched aiming to help older people stay fitter and live independently for longer.
Active Older People HIT review of 2014-15
26 May 2015
Professor Selena Gray and Dr Afroditi Stathi, Directors of the Active Older People Health Integration Team (APPHLE HIT) give an update on their work in 2014-15.
Active older people (APPHLE) HIT given go ahead
3 March 2014
A new Health Integration Team (HIT) looking at improving activity and health in later life has been approved by Bristol Health Partners.
