As we celebrate Community Services Week (19-23 October 2026), we are spotlighting the incredible teams delivering innovative care closer to home. One such example is our Catheter Crisis Service, recently recognised at the We Are NELFT Staff Awards for Innovation and Improvement, which is transforming care for hundreds of patients across Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge.

The service was launched after healthcare teams identified a gap in support for people living with catheters who were not housebound or receiving care in residential settings. Many patients had little choice but to visit Accident and Emergency departments when they experienced catheter problems.

The Catheter Crisis Service was created to provide a fast, specialist response in the community, ensuring patients can access expert support when they need it most.

Since launching, the service has supported hundreds of residents and delivered significant improvements in patient care. In some areas, it has reduced catheter-related A&E attendances by more than 70%, helping people receive treatment closer to home and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.

In addition to direct patient care, the service plays an important role in developing skills across the wider workforce by training and supporting nurses in catheter management and catheterisation procedures.

Community Services Week celebrates the essential care delivered by community health teams, often behind the scenes, helping people maintain their independence and receive treatment in the right place, at the right time.

One service user said:

'I wanted to thank the catheter service for support in preventing me from going into hospital. I felt comfortable and no longer in pain. Very happy with the service and competence of staff'.

The Catheter Crisis Service is an example of how innovative community healthcare can improve outcomes for patients, enhance experiences of care and reduce pressure on hospitals, ensuring more people can receive specialist support closer to home.