§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that resources are available to ensure that every person suffering from, or suspected as suffering from, incontinence, receives a medical and nursing assessment; what information he has about variations from one part of the country to another in this regard; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersMedical and nursing assessments are already available in all Health and Social Services Board areas for patients suffering from incontinence. It is a matter for Health and Social Services Board to determine how their available resources should be allocated in the light of local needs and circumstances.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evaluations have been made on the quality of the goods used in the management of incontinence; what evaluation units have been set up within his Department; what are proposed in assessing the quality of goods; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersWhile no evaluations have been made by the Department of Health and Social Services it recently brought to the attention of the Health and Social Services 491W Boards the results of a study conducted at St. Pancras Hospital from April 1983 to April 1985. It included clinical trials, technical assessments and review of laboratory testing of incontinence garments.
It is for the Health and Social Services Boards to assess and decide the best and most cost-effective means of providing these garments and I am satisfied that they are doing so in the light of local needs and circumstances.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support his Department is giving to the research into uro-dynamic investigation; if he will provide funds for the establishment of regional uro-dynamic investigation units; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersThe Department of Health and Social Services is not at present directly funding any research projects into uro-dynamic investigation. Any applications received for funding in this field would be considered on their merits along with other Health and Social Services projects.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice his Department gives to general practitioners and hospital authorities regarding the treatment of incontinence caused by constipation; what investigations his Department has done on the subject of bowel management and faecal impaction; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersNone. It would be inappropriate for the Department to give specific advice or guidance on all the detailed aspects of incontinence or to carry out investigations into such clinical problems. It is a matter for staff to decide on the basis of their own professional judgment how to advise and treat their patients.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if his Department will provide courses for general practitioners to assist them to recognise overflow incontinence in the case of severely constipated patients who are referred to geriatric hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 13 January 1987 [Official Report, Vol. 108, col. 152].
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who is responsible for co-ordinating and advising on the problems of incontinence and its treatment in all forms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersResponsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the problems of incontinence, its treatment and the provision of services rests with Health and Social Services Boards in conjunction with professional medical and nursing bodies.