Fast track your treatment
To book an appointment or speak with one of our friendly team, please get in touch using the options below
Welcome to the Circle Health Group website. We've changed our name from BMI Healthcare. Just as before, we have thousands of specialists offering expert healthcare. Click here to find a specialist or a hospital near you.
Critical information about the catheter removal process.
A urinary catheter is a soft, flexible tube that is inserted into your bladder, allowing it to drain urine into a drainage bag. It is mostly used when people have difficulty going to the toilet naturally.
A catheter works by draining urine from the bladder. It is usually inserted into your bladder through your urethra, or through a hole in your tummy and then into your bladder. Urine flows from your bladder through the catheter (tube) and into a drainage bag that is either attached to your leg or on a stand on the ground beside you.
There are several types of urinary catheters, including:
Intermittent urinary catheters: these are inserted and removed several times throughout the day to drain your bladder at intermittent periods. You should be taught how to insert this type of catheter yourself. Your Consultant will make sure you understand this process before you do it.
Indwelling urinary catheters: this catheter is inserted through your urethra and left in place. Urine is drained through the catheter and into a draining bag. This catheter can either be attached to the inside of your leg or placed on the floor.
Suprapubic catheters: this catheter is also left in place. However, rather than being inserted through your urethra, this catheter is inserted through a hole in your tummy and then into your bladder. This is used when your urethra is damaged or blocked.
Consultant Urological Surgeon
MBBS, MS[Surgery], FRCS[Surgery], MD[Research], FRCS[Urology], FEBU
Bishops Wood Hospital 1 more The Clementine Churchill Hospital
Consultant Urological Surgeon
MBBS MRCS FRCS(Urol) BSc
The Chaucer Hospital
Consultant Urological Surgeon
MBChB MD FRCS (UROL)
The Highfield Hospital 1 more The Alexandra Hospital
Consultant Urological Surgeon
MBBS, MS, PhD, FRCS (Urology), FEBU
The Blackheath Hospital 1 more Chelsfield Park Hospital
Consultant Urological Surgeon
BM(Soton), MD, FRCS(Urol)
Ross Hall Hospital 1 more Ross Hall Clinic Braehead
Consultant Urologist
MBBS, ISRCS(Urol)
The Ridgeway Hospital