§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment has been made of the facilities available in schools to manage children who have(a) bladder and (b) bowel conditions; [159837]
110W(2) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of dedicated specialist paediatric continence services; [159838]
(3) what assessment has been made of the services available to children with continence problems since February 2000; [159839]
(4) how many paediatric specialist continence nurses are practising; and what plans he has to increase their number. [159841]
§ Dr. LadymanThe effects of bladder and bowel conditions and other causes of continence problems in children can be of serious concern in schools. All schools in England were made aware of the Department's "Good Practice in Continence Services" guidance (2000), which addresses measures for effective management. I understand the Department for Education and Skills requires schools to have toilet and medical facilities in accordance with the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. It is for local assessment of need, on a case by case basis, to determine what additional facilities may be needed in schools. Individual provision in schools is not assessed centrally.
"Good Practice in Continence Services" indicates cost-effectiveness associated with specialist continence services and advises that each national health service primary care trust (PCT) should have specialist continence services in place which provide an individual assessment of needs. PCTs are also encouraged to use the Modernisation Agency's publication, "Good practice in paediatric continence services—benchmarking in action", when ensuring levels of quality and provision.
PCTs are responsible for assessing and providing continence services in accordance with need, and for determining the number of nurses necessary for this activity. An assessment of services and the number of paediatric specialist continence nurses practising, is not undertaken centrally.