Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that the Care Quality Commission's regulatory standards include verification of continence care treatment standards in (a) hospitals and (b) care homes.

Lack of adequate continence care could breach a number of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) fundamental standards; for example that people:

- must have care and treatment that is tailored to them and meets their needs and preferences;

- are treated with dignity and respect at all times whilst receiving care and treatment; and

- do not suffer any form of abuse or improper treatment, including neglect or degrading treatment, while receiving care.

The CQC considers continence as part of inspections wherever appropriate. If a specific concern over continence care was raised, the inspection would focus on this issue in greater detail.