Published: April 2025. Next review: 2030.
This toolkit guides nursing and medical staff in the care and management of adult patients with a suprapubic catheter (SPC).
A suprapubic cystostomy is a surgically created channel from the patient's skin in the hypogastric region directly into the bladder. This channel allows for the insertion of an SPC, which continuously drains urine from the bladder.
Medical officers or senior registered nurses need to be appropriately qualified with the relevant training and assessment to insert and change an SPC.
This toolkit includes guidance on:
- advantages and limitations of the SPC
- the procedure for insertion and cleansing, including equipment needed
- caring for the SPC
- alerts and risks
Practical tools support clinicians to:
- assess their knowledge and clinical skills needed to change an adult SPC
- solve problems as they arise when changing an SPC.
Topics include:
Download the toolkit (PDF 762.6 KB)