HC Deb 01 April 1996 vol 275 cc55-6W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to promote continence care and services, and if he will make a statement; [23456]

(2) what guidance he has issued to health authorities on the provision of incontinence services; [23458]

(3) if he will draw up and publish national criteria for the provision of incontinence services through a Department of Health guideline; [23459]

(4) what measures he has taken to monitor incontinence services provided by health authorities. [23462]

Mr. Bowis

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Sir J. Hannam) on 27 February,Official Report, columns 463–64.

We have issued the following guidance to the NHS: An Agenda for Action on Continence Services (Department of Health) issued in 1991; The Role of the Continence Adviser in England and Wales (Social Policy Research Unit, University of York) issued in 1994; Incontinence (Patient Perception Leaflet—NHS Executive) issued in 1994; Incontinence—Causes, Management and Provision of Services (Royal College of Physicians) issued on 28 March 1996; Commissioning Comprehensive Continence Services—Guidance for Purchasers (The Continence Foundation) issued on 28 March 1996.

Copies of these publications will be placed in the Library.

Work is continuing on a nursing-led clinical guideline on the management of incontinence.

The organisation of continence services locally and the manner in which they are delivered are matters for district health authorities and hospital and community trusts.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the long-term saving in residential care costs from providing support services in their own homes to patients who suffer from incontinence. [23457]

Mr. Bowis

We have made no such estimate.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the amount spent on incontinence products by each health authority in each of the last five years; [24083]

(2) what was the amount spent on incontinence products for residents of private nursing homes who have been placed there by the health authority, by authority, in each of the last five years. [24084]

Mr. Bowis

The information is not available centrally.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are currently affected by incontinence in the United Kingdom. [24085]

Mr. Bowis

This information is not available centrally.