§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect to receive the report of the review of continence services and to make a statement.
90WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Baroness Hooper)I have now received the report,An Agenda for Action on Continence Services, and have placed copies in the Library. The report sets out information on the current state of continence services. It concludes that while there are examples of well-planned and co-ordinated local services, their availability is patchy. It identifies the key features of an effective local service and recommends that these should form the basis of planning and service delivery in all health districts and local authority areas in accordance with established Departmental guidelines. It also recommends central action over the next few years to promote greater professional and public awareness of continence problems and the scope for tackling them, and to commission and disseminate the results of research to evaluate selected service patterns.
Copies of the report will be sent to health service managers and directors of social services with a letter emphasising the key messages for local service planning and provision. We will take steps to implement the report's recommendations—for example, research on cost effectiveness and extending the training of nurses and other health professionals.