§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation her Department is making of the effectiveness of national continence awareness week; arid if the event will be repeated in 1995.
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§ Mr. BowisNational continence week took place from 13–19 March 1994. The campaign generated a substantial amount of media coverage with articles in the national press as well as in women's and general interest magazines. Many radio and television programmes also carried times about the week. Demand for the Department's publicity material exceeded expectations. The posters, leaflets and stickers had to be reprinted three times and nearly 2 million copies have been sent out so far. Calls to the telephone helpline funded by the Department have increased from 15 to around 300 a day. In addition, the Continence Foundation is receiving an average of 200 written requests for information a day.
The Department will continue to monitor the results of the campaign and a decision as to whether to repeat the event in 1995 will be made in the light of this.