General debate on incontinence
A general debate on incontinence is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons Chamber on Thursday 19 June 2025. The subject for the debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be led by Sonia Kumar.
There are two types of incontinence: urinary incontinence and bowel incontinence.
Urinary incontinenceUrinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. There are different types of urinary incontinence (some people may experience more than one type). The NHS webpage on urinary incontinence explains that this includes:
- stress incontinence – when urine leaks out at times when someone’s bladder is under pressure; for example, when they cough or laugh
- urge (urgency) incontinence – when urine leaks as someone feels a sudden, intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards
- overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention) – when someone is unable to fully empty their bladder, which causes frequent leaking
- total incontinence – when someone’s bladder cannot store any urine at all, which causes them to pass urine constantly or have frequent leaking
The causes of urinary incontinence vary and can lead to short-term or long-term problems. There are also risk factors, such as older age, that increase the likelihood of someone experiencing urinary incontinence, without directly causing the problem.
There are non-surgical and surgical treatments for urinary incontinence. Non-surgical treatments for urinary incontinence include lifestyle changes and exercises, as well as medication. If non-surgical options are unsuccessful or inappropriate, a range of surgeries or procedures for urinary incontinence are available.
Bowel incontinenceBowel incontinence is an inability to control bowel movements. The NHS webpage on bowel incontinence explains that a person might have bowel incontinence if they:
- eat certain foods or drinks, for example spicy foods or drinks with caffeine in them
- have weaker muscles around their bottom – this can happen as people get older or because of things like hormonal changes or childbirth
- have a health condition that affects their digestive system such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn's disease
- have a health condition that makes them less aware of when they need to poo, such as dementia, a learning disability, a stroke or damage to the nerves in their spine
Treatment for bowel incontinence ranges from treatment through the GP, such as medication, treatment from a specialist service, or surgery.
How many people experience incontinence?The number of patients with continence care needs is not routinely published.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has an information page about urinary incontinence in women. This includes an estimate for the prevalence of urinary incontinence in women in the UK (34%). Comparable figures for men, or for bowel incontinence are not published.
Guidance from NHS England published in 2018 included some prevalence estimates. The guidance cited research that an estimated 14 million people in the UK have some degree of urinary incontinence, while over half a million adults have regular bowel incontinence that impacts their quality of life. It also said that bowel incontinence is closely associated with age, with prevalence about 15% in adults aged 85 living at home, and is more common than this in residential and nursing homes.
NHS incontinence services and productsIn England, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are responsible for continence care, taking into account the following NICE guidance:
NHS England’s Excellence in Continence Care guide, updated in 2018, provides advice for commissioners, providers and healthcare staff on understanding and addressing continence needs within their local population. It is applicable to all children, young people, adults and the elderly, from assessment, diagnosis and treatment to recovery where possible. The purpose of the guidance is to promote consistent practice, improve clinical outcomes and the experiences of people with continence needs, and reduce health inequalities.
People with urinary incontinence may use incontinence products such as incontinence pads. Some people may be able to access incontinence products on the NHS, depending on the policy of their ICB. Some people may use a personal health budget to manage and pay for their continence care needs.
NHS England commissions specialised services for women with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse.
Parliamentary materials Parliamentary questions2 June 2025 | UIN HL7608
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
To ask His Majesty's Government what practical steps are being taken to help raise awareness of (1) patient dignity, and (2) patient choice, in continence care.
Answering member: Baroness Merron | Department of Health and Social Care
Patients deserve the very best health and care, and by developing a 10-Year Health Plan, we will deliver the three shifts needed to get the health service and the nation’s health thriving once again. We are committed to ensuring that the National Health Service is managed in a way that prioritises patient care and which delivers the best possible outcomes.
NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care, a copy of which is attached, on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence. The guidance states that “…pathways of care should be commissioned that ensure early assessment, effective management of incontinence, along with other bladder and bowel problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections and their impact on social, physical and mental well-being”. NHS England will consider the next steps for Excellence in Continence Care.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence. The guidance aims to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of people with faecal incontinence.
7 April 2025 | UIN 43327
Asked by: Tom Morrison
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on increasing provision of sanitary bins for men suffering from incontinence.
Answering member: Mary Creagh | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I have not discussed increasing provision of sanitary bins for men suffering from incontinence with Cabinet colleagues. In 2024, officials met with campaigners and discussed the provision of sanitary bins in public and workplace toilets with other relevant departments.
The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers in England. This however does not extend to compelling local authorities regarding types of waste receptacles or their placement. These decisions are for local authorities to make.
The Building Regulations for England were updated in 2024 with the addition of a new ‘Part T’ which sets out toilet requirements in new non-domestic buildings in England. Part T is supported by statutory guidance which includes space for disposal bins in the design layouts. However, the Building Regulations are limited to the provision and design of toilet facilities and do not extend to the management and use of disposal bins.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reviewing the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 regarding provision of disposal facilities in workplace toilets. This work is included within the Government’s wider plans under Make Work Pay, and HSE will hold appropriate consultation in due course.
4 March 2025 | UIN 33844
Asked by: Sir Julian Lewis
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to commission (a) research into, and (b) training programmes for, improved techniques for removal of failed pelvic mesh implants from injured women including those removal methods developed in Missouri by Dr Dionysios Veronikis currently unavailable in the United Kingdom.
Answering member: Karin Smyth | Department of Health and Social Care
The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is currently funding research to develop a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for prolapse, incontinence, and mesh complication surgery. This will enable women to self-report the ways in which any surgical treatment for these conditions, mesh and non-mesh related, has affected their quality of life. Once testing of the PROM is completed, women will be able to complete it as part of their care. It will also be suitable for use by national registries and with women taking part in clinical trials. The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of women’s health, including pelvic mesh.
NHS England has established nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse get the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need, including pain management and psychological support.
The National Health Service’s service specification sets out the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. The specification for complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence, vaginal or internal, and external rectal prolapse states that specialised mesh centres must use trust appraisal systems to ensure that surgeons are appropriately trained, current in their practice, that they adhere to clinical and NICE guidance, comply with Pelvic Floor Registry data requirements, and report complications. The service specification is available at the following link:
DebatesCumberlege Review: Pelvic Mesh
5 December 2024 | Westminster Hall | 758 cc154WH-175WH
Bladder and Bowel Continence Care
29 June 2023 | Westminster Hall | 735 cc196WH-212WH
19 April 2018 | House of Commons Chamber | 639 cc493-534
5 September 2017 | House of Commons Chamber | 628 cc127-137
Press and stakeholder materialsThe following is a selection of news and media articles relevant to this debate. Please note: the Library is not responsible for either the views or the accuracy of external content.
- University of Aberdeen, Uncomfortable bladder tests for female incontinence can be avoided, say researchers, 23 March 2025
- BBC News, Men's sanitary bins combat incontinence 'taboo', 12 June 2024
- University of Oxford, Oxford spinout trials revolutionary bioelectronic implant to treat incontinence, 31 January 2023
- European Association of Urology, Despite high prevalence, urinary incontinence is still very much a taboo, 20 September 2021
- Bladder Health UK, Men with Incontinence: Treating and Managing (accessed 9 June 2025)
- Department of Health and Social Care, National pelvic health service to support women, 19 October 2023
- NHS South West London, Pelvic health app helps break incontinence taboos, 26 April 2023
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Pause on the use of vaginally inserted surgical mesh for stress urinary incontinence., 17 July 2018
- Scottish Government, Transvaginal mesh implants independent review: final report, 27 March 2017
- NHS England, Specialised services for women with complications of mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse (accessed 9 June 2025)
- House of Commons Library, Debate on the first anniversary of the Hughes report on valproate and pelvic mesh, 26 March 2025
- House of Commons Library, Debate on pelvic mesh and the Cumberlege review, 4 December 2024
- House of Commons Library, Surgical Mesh, 18 April 2018
- House of Commons Library, Risks of surgical mesh implants, 16 October 2017