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Incontinence 2025-06-19
19 June 2025
Lead MP
Sonia Kumar
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSEmployment
Other Contributors: 23
At a Glance
Sonia Kumar raised concerns about incontinence 2025-06-19 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Moved the debate on incontinence, highlighting its prevalence and stigma. Emphasised the need for awareness, prevention through physiotherapy, school curriculum inclusion, specialist workforce development, research prioritisation, banning misleading advertisements, and a one-stop-shop service. Noted that bladder and bowel conditions affect millions of residents with debilitating symptoms and significant mental health impacts.
Irene Campbell
Lab
North Ayrshire and Arran
Agreed with Sonia Kumar's emphasis on readily available products, citing a past NHS experience where changes in product supply caused distress to patients and staff despite cost-saving intentions.
John Cooper
Con
Dumfries and Galloway
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, with one in eight diagnosed. Surgery for prostate cancer can lead to urinary incontinence in up to 60% of cases. Campaigns like Prostate Buddies raise awareness about prostate disease and its treatment side effects.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
Bladder control issues affect one in three women, but the issue also affects men. London survey shows 54% of male Londoners have experienced urinary control problems, with 28% experiencing symptoms before age 25. Public health campaign is needed to destigmatise the issue and ensure basic provision for all affected.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
In Northern Ireland, some half a million people live with bladder control problems, with only 20% seeking treatment due to discomfort discussing symptoms. Early diagnosis is key. Campaigning for better awareness and access to care.
Penrith and Solway
Urges the Government to establish a statutory requirement for local authorities to provide public toilets. Discusses the importance of accessibility and quality in public facilities, citing examples from his constituency.
Jodie Gosling
Lab
Nuneaton
Highlights the preventable nature of continence issues and their impact on mental and physical health. Calls for stronger training mandates across healthcare sectors to address continence needs from infancy through old age, citing specific examples of inadequate care.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate on bladder leakage and bowel control, affecting over 14 million people in the UK. Women suffering from incontinence have been treated poorly in the past due to vaginal mesh surgery, which led to life-changing injuries for many women who were not properly informed about risks or alternatives like physiotherapy-supervised pelvic floor exercises. I commend Baroness Cumberlege’s report recommending a full apology and compensation scheme for mesh victims. We must ensure proper treatment plans tailored to individual needs without compromising dignity and safety.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this debate, focusing on the stigma surrounding bladder and bowel issues and the pelvic mesh scandal which has affected many women in Harlow constituency alone. Urinary incontinence impacts an estimated 14 million people in the UK, costing roughly £5 billion a year to NHS. People suffering from such issues should feel confident coming forward sooner to reduce costs and avoid complications like infections or hospital admissions.
Pam Cox
Lab
Colchester
I thank my hon. Friend for initiating this debate, acknowledging that incontinence affects people of all ages across communities but remains shrouded in stigma, disrupting daily activities and requiring tackling at multiple levels.
Chris Vince
Con
Harlow
Shared personal experience with bladder control issues, highlighting the need for open conversation and support.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Explored complications from pelvic mesh implants, stressing the importance of compensation and better treatment options.
Penrith and Solway
Called for better public toilet provision with adequate facilities, including sanitary bins. Emphasised the restoration of toilets in Castle Park as an example.
Lauren Sullivan
Lab
Gravesham
Highlighted the need for non-invasive testing and emphasised the importance of local councils increasing public toilet provision. Cited the community toilet scheme in Gravesham as a success.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Suggested encouraging cafés to provide better facilities for those with bladder and bowel control issues, supporting statutory duty provisions for public toilets.
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
Called for better funding of local authorities to support services like public toilets. Emphasised the need for proper research into treatments avoiding invasive procedures and highlighted the strain on family carers due to lack of support.
Gregory Stafford
Con
Farnham and Bordon
He acknowledged the severity of incontinence issues, emphasising that around 14 million people across the UK are affected by it. He called for better access to continence nurses, urologists, and physiotherapists, along with investing in community support, research, and innovation.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Minister for Secondary Care
She acknowledged the issue of incontinence affecting millions across different age groups. She emphasised the need for dignity and compassion at the heart of care provided and highlighted initiatives such as the perinatal pelvic health service by NHS England.
Sonia Kumar
Lab
Rotherham
The hon. Member for Rotherham raised concerns over incontinence care, emphasising the need for high-quality guidance and support for patients across different settings. She commended colleagues for their contributions to the debate.
Penrith and Solway
The hon. Member for Penrith and Solway addressed access issues related to public facilities, echoing points made by others about the importance of community care.
Jodie Gosling
Lab
Nuneaton
The hon. Member for Nuneaton discussed her work on the all-party parliamentary group for bladder and bowel continence care and highlighted issues regarding paediatric care and high costs to the NHS from neglecting these conditions.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The hon. Member for Strangford focused on the financial impact of incontinence on the NHS, advocating for better management and prevention strategies.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
The hon. Member for Wolverhampton West talked passionately about the necessity of high-quality care for patients dealing with pelvic mesh issues and emphasised the importance of early intervention in preventing long-term health complications.
Daniel Poulter
Con
Stourbridge
The hon. Member for Stourbridge spoke on behalf of the Government, outlining initiatives such as NICE guidelines and NHS England’s guidance to improve continence care across various conditions.
Government Response
The Minister emphasised the importance of dignity and compassion in managing incontinence. She discussed initiatives such as the perinatal pelvic health service, which aims to support women who experienced trauma during childbirth and reduce the number of people developing continence problems. The Minister outlined government efforts including NICE guidelines for incontinence management and late-stage assessments on products used by patients. He also mentioned NHS initiatives like safer bowel care guidance, professional standards from the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and a catheter care pathway to be completed this year.
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