§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what intiatives 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.
163W
§ Mr. John MacKayNone. The undergraduate curriculum in medical schools is a matter for the universities to determine taking account of guidance issued from time to time by the General Medical Council.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (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) if he will take steps to ensure that minimum acceptable standards of care for incontinent persons are available within each district health authority in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
(3) 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;
(4) what advice he gives regarding the provision of continence advice and service; 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. John MacKayGuidance was issued in 1976 and 1977 to health boards and local authorities on the provision of aids and facilities for incontinent people. The results of a research study of incontinence pads and garments were sent to health boards in October 1986. It is for health boards to determine the level of service provision in the light of local needs and circumstances and information on an area basis about the incidence of incontinence and service provision is not held centrally. The term "continence adviser" is not generally used in Scotland but advice to individuals is given by general practitioners, district nurses, health visitors and social workers. Nurses with specialised expertise hold continence clinics and organise training programmes.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will provide vocational courses on the control and care of incontinent persons for general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayPostgraduate education, including vocational training for general practitioners, is funded by the Department and provided through regional postgraduate committees and the postgraduate deans and regional advisers in general practice who are also responsible for determining the subject matter of the training courses offered. I understand that at least two courses dealing specifically with incontinence have been arranged for 1987. The topic will invariably be covered in other courses dealing with care of the elderly, terminally ill and neurological diseases.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe establishment of such clinics is a matter for each health board to determine on the basis of its knowledge of the needs and priorities of its own area.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the number of male 164W incontinent persons in the age brackets 15 to 64 and 65 plus years in Scotland; if he will give the same estimates for females; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information requested is not available centrally.