Adult Bowel Care Policy.pdf - NHS North Somerset

Appendix 4
Insertion of Suppository
Equipment required
• Gloves.
• Disposable apron.
• Plastic-backed absorbent sheet.
• Lubricating solution.
• Bedpan or commode.
• Prepared solution.
Complete bowel assessment with the
patient (NICE 2007, SFH CC01).
Discuss treatment with patient and the
Team, justify and document the need
for this procedure.
Be aware of legislation regarding
mental capacity (NMC 2008, SFH
CC01 and CC09).
Explain Procedure.
Consider cultural and religious beliefs.
Explain potential risks to the patient.
Document consent given
Action Rationale
To ascertain the need for suppositories
• other bowel emptying techniques
have failed,
• faecal impaction/loading,
• incomplete defaecation,
• inability to defaecate,
• neurogenic bowel dysfunction,
• patient with spinal injury.
To allow patient choice and to ensure
optimum treatment (NMC 2008, SFH
CC01, CC09).
To gain the patient’s consent and co-
operation, you must ensure that the
patient has the mental capacity to give consent.
Valid consent requires three key elements:
1.It must be given freely and voluntarily
without coercion or manipulation (SFH
CC01, CC09).
2.The patient must be appropriately
informed of the proposed intervention.
3.The patient must be deemed
competent to make the decision.
Failure to satisfy these three elements
will invalidate any consent.
So that consent is valid.
To comply with legislation.
Ensure privacy and respect the To help the patient relax and minimise
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Adult Bowel Care Policy PS 337 06/2009 1 06/2010 27 of 42
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