§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the statutory provisions governing charges for incontinence pads by local health authorities.
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 7 November 1991]: The position on charging for NHS services is set out in section 1(2) of the National Health Service Act 1977 which states that such services must be
free of charge except in so far as the making or recovery of harges is expressly provided for by or under any enactment, whenever passed".The provision of incontinence pads by NHS community services to people who are not NHS in-patients is a matter for the discretion of health authorities.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical assessment is used to decide how many incontinence pads are supplied free daily.
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 7 November 1991]: This is a matter to be determined by individual health authorities. The Department has issued general guidance to health authorities on this matter following a national review of incontinence services, earlier this year.