Sexual Wellbeing Service

The service provides support for patients and their relevant other who have experienced disability or disabling illness in their lives. This experience can often have a traumatic effect on patients, which can sometimes result in relationship difficulties, damage to body image and self-esteem, difficulty with sexual function, and particularly for male patients with spinal cord injury, problems with fertility.

In order to provide a holistic rehabilitation programme for our patients, the area of sexual wellbeing and sexual health can be included in patients programmes if they feel ready to discuss such issues. Some patients may prefer to wait until after they have been discharged as an Inpatient and come back as an Outpatient to attend the service.

The Sexual Wellbeing service provides information and counselling in a private and confidential setting, and in a non-judgemental way for the following:

• Dealing with the impact of illness or disability on a person’s sexuality.
• The direct and indirect effects of illness or disability on sexuality.
• Information on aids and appliances to enhance sexual function.
• Information and arrangement of appointments for fertility programmes.
• Individual and couple counselling.
• Psychosexual therapy if required.
• Advice and information on contraceptive and practicing safe sex.

The Sexual Wellbeing Service and Paediatric Programme has developed information leaflets for parents of children with acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury. Work is continuing to further develop educational booklets for children of different age groups.

External healthcare agencies can request education and training for their staff and, or service users.

Multidisciplinary workshops are run throughout the year to provide information and increase comfort levels of NRH Staff in raising these issues with our patients.

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What is the Sexual Wellbeing Service at the NRH?
The Sexual Wellbeing service at the NRH provides an opportunity for individuals (and their partners) to discuss concerns and address issues about changes in their sexual wellbeing since their injury or diagnosis.

The sexual wellbeing service will provide information and counselling within a sensitive, supportive and confidential setting.

What is Sexual Wellbeing?
This has been described as a person’s satisfaction with the emotional and physical aspects of relationships; satisfaction with sexual functioning and the importance of sexuality in a person’s life.

What is Sexuality?
Sexuality is an important component to sexual wellbeing.

Sexuality is an integral part of us all, regardless of age, gender, health and physical ability.

Sexuality encompasses all the feelings, attitudes and behaviours that contribute to a person’s own sense of being a man or a woman.

What does the Sexual Wellbeing Service Provide?
The service provides support for patients – and their relevant other – after experiencing disability or disabling illness in their lives. This experience can often have a traumatic effect on our patients which can result in issues such as:

• relationship difficulties
• damage to self-esteem and body image
• difficulty with sexual function
• problems with fertility, in some situations

In order to provide a holistic rehabilitation programme for our patients, the area of sexual wellbeing can be included in patients’ programmes if they feel ready to discuss such issues. Some patients may prefer to wait until after they have been discharged as an Inpatient and come back as an Outpatient to attend the service.

Who is on the Sexual Wellbeing Service Team?
The service is led by Pauline Sheils, Clinical Nurse Specialist. Pauline has specialised knowledge and expertise in the area of sexuality and disability, and over 30 years clinical experience.

The Rehabilitation Consultants at the NRH are also available to address any medical concerns of patients and their partners.

The NRH has a visiting Consultant Urologist whose expertise is also available to patients to answer concerns in relation to sexual function, and whose role is important in some of the fertility programmes that may need to be undertaken.

How can I Access the Sexual Wellbeing Service?

• Patients on all NRH clinical programmes are informed of the service through their clinical team and offered the opportunity to avail of the service.
• Patients can self-refer or be referred from any member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Any family member or friend can request an appointment.

Contact details:-
Pauline Sheils, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Sexuality and Disability
Email: Pauline.sheils@nrh.ie   Tel:  01-235 5288

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