HC Deb 06 November 1997 vol 300 cc346-7W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation(a) has been carried out and (b) is planned by his Department of the total cost of health care provided by the NHS for incontinence. [14029]

Mr. Boateng

No evaluation of these costs has been carried out and none is planned.

Specific information on the cost of health care provided by the National Health Service for people with incontinence is not collected centrally and we have no plans to change this. The Department is seeking to reduce the burden of data collection by the NHS and rationalise data flows within the NHS and between the NHS and the centre. The collection of additional information on incontinence would not be in line with this policy.