16.05.13
Continence care ‘deteriorating’ – MPs
There has been significant deterioration in continence services in the NHS since 2007, a new report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Continence Care shows.
An ageing population and fewer resources continue to threaten this care, with a detrimental impact on basic human rights, increased health complications, loss of dignity and quality of life.
The survey showed reductions in team staff across the NHS, with lower morale and fewer senior posts in work teams. Almost half of all services have seen an increase in patients needing continence care, from 1.3 million in 2006/07 to 2.3 million in 2010/11.
However, budgets have not increased accordingly, and products are supplied to a level determined by budget rather than clinical need. Three-quarters of services report average waiting times of 4-8 weeks.
Baroness Greengross, OBE chair of the APPG said: “This timely survey shows the level of provision of our continence care services has deteriorated since previous studies were undertaken. Failure to provide accessible comprehensive care carries significant cost to the NHS. With an ageing population and increased patient referrals this is a worrying trend. We feel it is vital that continence services should be given a high priority by the newly-formed 212 Clinical Commissioning Groups as well as NHS England.
“The APPG for Continence Care published a Guide to Cost-Effective Commissioning for Continence Care. This Guide demonstrates that an effective continence service can save valuable NHS resources as well as improving the quality of life for sufferers and restoring dignity. Incontinence can affect any member of the population, young or old. It can have a profoundly negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Patients should be able to receive prompt assessment and care to enable them to lead full and active lives.”
Dr Kevin Stewart, clinical director of the RCP’s Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit, said: “We are highly supportive of this report because it continues to highlight the issue of continence care and how the services are organised.
“Continence services are experiencing an increase in patients who require their specialist care, whilst also experiencing a reduction in specialist staff and no increase in funding for care provision. With a growing elderly population and poorly managed continence care often contributing to the increased risk of falls and fractures in elderly people, the need to address diminishing levels of service provision is paramount.”
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