Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Bladder and Bowel Continence Care

29 June 2023 · 3 other contributors · 8,765 words

Opened by Andrew Selous Con South West Bedfordshire

Responding minister: Will Quince

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Selous raised concerns about bladder and bowel continence care in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • There are 14 million people with bladder problems and 6.5 million with bowel issues in England.
  • The last full audit on continence care services was conducted by the Royal College of Physicians in 2010.
  • The APPG requests a comprehensive updated audit and an increase in specialist continence nurses.

Key requests to Government

The Minister should commit to conducting a comprehensive updated audit of continence care services. Additionally, the NHS should increase the number of specialist continence nurses and provide more education courses for both stoma and urology continence nurses. The APPG requests basic training in bladder and bowel continence for nurses and midwives and mandates it in medical, nursing, and physiotherapy curriculums.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrew Selous Con South West Bedfordshire

There are 14 million people with bladder problems and 6.5 million with bowel issues in England. These conditions can cause significant social isolation, depression, and impact quality of life. The last full audit was conducted by the Royal College of Physicians in 2010. There is an urgent need for an up-to-date audit to assess service provision, identify regional gaps, and benchmark improvements. Many people wait five years or more before seeking medical advice due to embarrassment.

Other contributors (3)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon highlighted the difficulties men face in discussing urinary and bowel continence issues, noting that between 3 million to 6 million people experience urinary incontinence. He raised concerns about prostate cancer treatment side effects leading to urinary incontinence in up to 60% of cases. Shannon also mentioned a survey indicating that one in three men surveyed are wearing pads longer than advised and over a quarter admitted to flushing them down the toilet, creating public health issues. The debate aims to address anxiety, depression, and quality-of-life impacts on individuals suffering from urinary incontinence.

  • Karin Smyth Lab Bristol South

    Ms Smyth highlighted the significant impact of continence issues on millions in the UK, noting that one in five people suffer from these problems. She pointed out the financial burden on the NHS, which exceeds £5 billion annually due to poor continence care. Emphasising the need for better training and recognition of mental health issues among those affected, she called for improved support systems, particularly for hard-to-reach communities.

  • Nicholas Fletcher Con Westbury

    Mr. Fletcher highlighted the importance of discussing men's health issues, particularly bladder and bowel continence care, to break taboos around these topics. He called for amending Health and Safety Executive guidelines and advocated for a comprehensive men's health strategy with dedicated ministerial oversight. Emphasizing statistics such as one in five men not living to 65 and high mortality rates from prostate cancer and suicide, he stressed the need for systemic change to better support male health.

Government Response

Will Quince

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Graham. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire on securing this important debate and paying tribute to campaigners such as the Urology Foundation. NHS England has established the national bladder and bowel health project to improve continence care and published 'Excellence in Continence Care' as a practical guide. The minister acknowledges concerns about the implementation of the continence care guidelines, promising to raise them with the Minister for Social Care. On May 9th, NHS England published its delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, including proposals to improve options for community-based services to treat urinary tract infections through appropriately trained community pharmacists. NICE has produced guidance on managing faecal incontinence in adults, which is expected to be taken into account by healthcare professionals and commissioners. The updated national action plan on tackling antimicrobial resistance includes enhancing prevention of UTIs with early diagnosis and treatment of suspected or confirmed UTIs. NHS England has also published a service specification for bowel care for people with spinal cord injury. The medtech strategy aims to realise the potential of technology in improving patient outcomes and supporting the NHS workforce, focusing on value-based procurement. The minister commits to continuing support for providing a range of continence products in part IX of the drug tariff, ensuring equitable access for all patients. On public toilets and accessible facilities, including sanitary bins in men's toilets is an argument that will be raised with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The bladder and bowel CONfidence app has been referenced by a number of NHS trusts and medical centres, which the minister promises to look into promoting further. The Government's major conditions strategy considers needs of both men and women, acknowledging different approaches for treatment throughout life. Prostate cancer statistics show a considerable increase in diagnoses but only 51% were diagnosed at an early stage in 2021. NHS England has published its delivery plan to improve options for community-based services treating urinary tract infections with approximately £255 million annual spend on incontinence products from part IX items alone.

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