Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the document entitled Guidance for the provision of absorbent products for adult incontinence, published by the Royal College of Nursing and the Association for Continence Professionals in February 2023, whether he has made an assessment of whether the recommended number of incontinence products issued per 24 hours is consistent with the NICE guidance entitled Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management, reference NG123 published on 24 June 2019, Faecal incontinence in adults, reference QS54 published on 6 February 2014, and Faecal incontinence in adults: management, reference CG49 published on 27 June 2007; and if he will ensure that the Guidance for the provision of absorbent products for adult incontinence is followed by (a) NHS England and (b) social care providers.

We are aware of the most recent publication by the Royal College of Nursing relating to continence pads. NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence, and is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for making decisions on whether its published guidelines should be updated in light of new evidence or emerging issues not in the scope of the original guideline.

NICE maintains surveillance of new evidence that may affect its published guidance and would consult on proposed changes with a wide range of stakeholders if significant new evidence was to emerge.

Both integrated care boards and healthcare providers are expected to take national guidance into consideration when commissioning and delivering services, respectively.