Prof Nick van der Spek

About

Professor Nick van der Spek has been a Consultant Paediatrician at Cavan General Hospital since 2002, providing comprehensive care for infants, children and adolescents with a wide range of general paediatric conditions.

He has particular expertise in paediatric continence, including bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis), daytime bladder problems, constipation, bowel dysfunction and soiling. He has developed specialist continence services in Ireland and continues to be actively involved in clinical research aimed at improving outcomes for children with bladder and bowel disorders. His work has been presented nationally and internationally and has contributed to the development of paediatric continence services and evidence-based management strategies.

Professor van der Spek also has a special interest in neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and other aspects of neurodiversity. In addition, he has extensive experience in the assessment of the cause of hearing loss in children with permanent childhood hearing loss, supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and their families as part of multidisciplinary care.

Alongside his clinical practice, Professor van der Spek is a Clinical Professor with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), where he contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. He has authored numerous scientific publications and has a longstanding commitment to quality improvement, teaching and clinical research.

At Bon Secours Cavan, Professor van der Spek provides expert assessment and management of general paediatric conditions and children's continence disorders, including those associated with neurodevelopmental conditions. He is committed to providing compassionate, family-centred care tailored to the individual needs of every child and their family.