§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives his Department takes in advising medical schools to provide training for medical practitioners in the care of the incontinent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe Department has no direct involvement in the academic content of courses arranged by the University of Wales college of medicine.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) to what extent he encourages the provision of district continence nurse advisers; what encouragement he gives for the development of such services; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what advice, encouragement and guidance his Department gives for the establishment of walk-in or self-referral continence clinics; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will take steps to ensure that minimum acceptable standards of care for incontinent persons are available within each district health authority in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonWhilst I would expect all health authorities to provide acceptable incontinence services, I do not intend to prescribe in detail how such services should be provided or set specific standards of care, since it is for individual authorities to decide for themselves both the level of provision, and the pace and direction of further developments in their services, in the light of their local needs and circumstances.
In 1977, the Welsh Office wrote to all health authorities advising them that the management of incontinence should be clearly identified as the responsibility of a designated special nurse, who should act as a "resource person" for nurses working in hospitals and the community services. Since then, most district health 156W authorities have appointed at least one continence adviser. Community nurses also provide advice and assessment as part of their nursing duties.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department will provide vocational courses on the control and care of incontinent persons for general practioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe Department does not directly provide vocational courses in any medical or surgical discipline, and would not wish to interfere in the excellent facilities for continuing education already available.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of the number of male incontinent persons in the age brackets 15 to 64 years an 65 plus in Wales; and if he will give the same estimates for females; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe specific information requested for Wales is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what advice his Department gives to health authorities regarding the importance of medical-surgical management and nursing-care management of incontinent patients; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what advice he gives regarding the provision of continence advice and service; and what information he has on variations in care of incontinent patients from one area to another; if he will write to each health authority concerning provision for the treatment of incontinence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonAlthough data about incontinence services in particular districts are not routinely collected, information about these services is regularly included in the reports of the Health Advisory Service, and is also obtained informally by the Department's own officers.
There has been a growing awareness in recent years of the important contribution which the correct management of incontinence, and the provision of appropriate services, can make to enable those suffering from this distressing condition to obtain help and remain in their own homes in the community.
A considerable amount of research, much of it funded by the DHSS and the Welsh Office, has been carried out into various aspects of incontinence. For example, the results of a study of incontinence pads and garments was published in October 1986 by the DHSS and Welsh Office in the health equipment information series. In order to bring together the wide range or recently completed work, the Government are funding a research review by the nursing practice research unit at Surrey university.