Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential savings to the NHS and social care services from adopting value-based procurement of incontinence care for people living with dementia, in particular having regard to the impact on hospital admissions, staffing costs and laundry costs.

The Department has been working in partnership with NHS England and the NHS Supply Chain to develop national Value Based Procurement (VBP) Standard Guidance which will be published in early 2026. The guidance shifts the procurement focus from upfront cost to how a product can best deliver improved patient outcomes and value.

The Department is conducting live pilots to test the draft standard guidance, with National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards, from September to December 2025. Insights from the pilots will be used to refine the guidance and implementation plans ahead of final publication, including the support needed for NHS trusts to adopt the guidance.

Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. Supporting this, the VBP Standard Guidance will enable the procurement of the most effective products that improve patient experience and outcomes, including for those living with dementia and requiring absorbent incontinence products, as well as improve NHS efficiency.