Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve data collection and reporting of rates of treatment in women with urinary continence from minority-ethnic backgrounds.

The data held on referrals to gynaecology services is not broken down by the reason of referral. This means it is not possible to identify referrals specifically for female urinary incontinence, either for the total population or for women from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Work is underway to improve how this data is collected and reported. This includes recording the reason for referral and, as more care moves from hospital to community settings, recording the place of treatment. These improvements are intended to give a clearer view of who is being referred and treated, which will in turn support action to identify and address any inequalities in access for women from minority ethnic backgrounds.