§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget has been allocated to continence care in real terms in each year since 1990–91 in the South and West Devon health authority area. [40761]
§ Mr. MilburnThe budget allocated to continence care in real terms in each year since 1990–91 in the South and West Devon Health Authority area is as follows. Figures are at 1997/98 outturn price levels.
Year £ 1990–91 430,000 1991–92 430,000 1992–93 430,000 1993–94 430,000 1994–95 1830,000 1The large increase in 1994/95 is explained by the clarification of obligations by health authorities to fund continence care in nursing homes.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS plans to issue national guidance on the treatment of incontinence. [40190]
§ Mr. MilburnThe National Health Service Executive will conduct a review of continence policy to ensure that the most appropriate and effective continence services are 349W being planned and delivered. The aim will be to issue further guidance on continence services based on the conclusions of the review once it has been completed.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of funding his Department has given to voluntary organisations providing support for incontinent people in each year since 1990–91. [40191]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department runs a scheme whereby voluntary organisations operating in the health and personal social services field can apply for grants under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. The following amounts have been paid under this scheme:
Year £ 1990–91 10,000 1991–92 nil 1992–93 56,250 1993–94 197,572 1994–95 164,559 1995–96 197,593 1996–97 182,492 1997–98 56,000 1998–99 54,750
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the number of incontinent people in the UK seeking advice and products outside the NHS. [40192]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department has not conducted any research into this specific area. However there have been four recent research studies on continence.
The Department commissioned the Social Policy Research Unit of York University to research and produce a report on 'The Role of the Continence Advisers in England and Wales'. This was published in January 1994 and distributed to all health authorities, National Health Service trusts and continence advisers.
Three other research projects on incontinence have recently reported:
a feasibility study on costs, quality and effectiveness of continence services (Social Policy Research Unit, University of York);the development of methodologies to identify urinary incontinence and set targets for health gain (Health and Community Care Research Unit, University of Liverpool);evaluation of Health Interventions by Continence Services and Primary Health Care Teams on Patient Outcomes Related to Incontinence (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Oxford).
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been allocated to improved continence services from the winter funding budget, following his Department's press release of 14 October 1997. [40193]
§ Mr. MilburnAn additional £159 million was allocated to health authorities in England in October 1997 to help ease pressures on the health and social care system during the winter period. This money funded some 1,500 schemes, many of which involved continence services and other services in the community.