Written Question · S6W-16092 · Session 6
Further to the answer to question S6W-14660 by Shona Robison on 6 March 2023, whether further steps will be taken to ensure that people who…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14660 by Shona Robison on 6 March 2023, whether further steps will be taken to ensure that people who need incontinence pads will be able to afford them, in particular, people who are (a) not eligible for prescription pads or (b) eligible for a limited supply of prescription pads but exceed the amount that they are eligible for.
The answer
NHS Boards regularly assess continence patients' needs, with the assessments undertaken by dedicated Bladder and Bowel Teams or community nursing staff. This ensures that patients' needs are met, either through treatment or provision of appropriate containment products. Referrals can also be made by patients' GPs where necessary, and also by a range of other healthcare professionals including pharmacists, consultants and care home staff.
Where a patient has been assessed as requiring continence products, these are provided by their local NHS Board's continence service on prescription. As such, any person that is suffering from incontinence should seek a referral to their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be assessed, treated where appropriate, or managed through the prescription of continence products.
Whilst NHS Boards follow the guidance contained in the Association for Continence Advice Scotland paper 'Guidance for the provision of absorbent pads for adult incontinence
- Scotland' that the number of absorbent pads issued in each 24 hour period would not normally exceed 4, it is stressed that provision should meet assessed clinical need. This will include determining the amount of urine being passed daily by the patient, and consequently the appropriate absorbency level for the absorbent pads being prescribed.
There is no expectation for an individual to buy continence products where they have been assessed as requiring them, so any patient that feels that their prescription does not meet their needs should raise their concerns with their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be reassessed and their prescription adjusted if appropriate.
Where a patient has been assessed as requiring continence products, these are provided by their local NHS Board's continence service on prescription. As such, any person that is suffering from incontinence should seek a referral to their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be assessed, treated where appropriate, or managed through the prescription of continence products.
Whilst NHS Boards follow the guidance contained in the Association for Continence Advice Scotland paper 'Guidance for the provision of absorbent pads for adult incontinence
- Scotland' that the number of absorbent pads issued in each 24 hour period would not normally exceed 4, it is stressed that provision should meet assessed clinical need. This will include determining the amount of urine being passed daily by the patient, and consequently the appropriate absorbency level for the absorbent pads being prescribed.
There is no expectation for an individual to buy continence products where they have been assessed as requiring them, so any patient that feels that their prescription does not meet their needs should raise their concerns with their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be reassessed and their prescription adjusted if appropriate.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-16092 by reference.