Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 7 June (HL7873), what assessment they have made of whether the use of the current toolkit and models ensures that patients have clinically appropriate absorbent incontinence products, without any (1) increase in leaks, (2) reduction in mobility, (3) loss of dignity, (4) reduction in quality of life, or (5) any risk of (a) skin infections, and (b) pressure ulcers.

The disposable continence framework in place at NHS Supply Chain runs until August 2025. All suppliers and products on the NHS Supply Chain framework must meet industry standards and a quality specification to be awarded onto the framework. Products are categorised using the Rothwell scale which measures the level of absorbency.

NHS Supply Chain are currently in the process of working on two separate value-based procurement projects, both of which aim to concentrate on the key fundamental areas outlined in the question.

In addition, the Government's new Medical Technology Strategy, published in February 2023, identified incontinence products as one area of focus. The Department will work with clinicians to review, assess and categorise similar products to lay the foundations for value-based procurement. This assessment of products will be shared with NHS Supply Chain and other organisations involved in the purchase of incontinence products.