Re-useable continence pants instead of disposable ones?

It’s not ignorance, it’s fact. The NHS is there to provide for illness, not to provide for every social need. Incontinence pads can be bought out of the Attendance Allowance or Independent Living Allowance because that’s the kind of thing it’s for. To call another poster ignorant just because you don’t agree with that poster is the height of rudeness.

maddyone

I knew people would disagree with me, but I’m not changing my mind. Incontinence pads are personally items, not medications or treatments. Yes they are expensive, but if a person needs the heavy duty ones they will undoubtedly qualify to claim the Independent Living Allowance (if that’s what it’s still called) which is not means tested and is supposed to provide for exactly these sorts of situations.
If everything anyone ever needs was to be provided on the NHS it would be unable to treat all illnesses and conditions. It already struggles to do this and many Gransnetters get very exercised about not having the NHS provide exactly what they want exactly when they need it. The NHS should be concentrating on providing the services that people need, not providing items that come under the ‘social care’ heading. As I said, people need to use their Independent Living Allowance to buy incontinence pads, like my elderly mother did till she was in a care home, where they provided them, but she was self funding in the care home, so paid within her fees.

This is possibly the most ignorant post I’ve seen on GN. You clearly know absolutely nothing about incontinence issues suffered as part of many congenital birth defects and other conditions, and the expense that goes with that. If you’re lucky enough to only pee when you cough or sneeze you might want to consider those who live with severe, life affecting incontinence before you speak to their entitlement with the cost. Specialist incontinence products cost a fortune and disability benefits usually have to cover a multitude of costs connected to the persons’ condition. When you add in the real cost of incontinence products these benefits wouldn’t begin to cover it and disabled people would end up doing without.

maddyone

I’m not really sure that I agree with the NHS supplying incontinence pads when they are easily available to buy. I think there are far more important things for the NHS to be spending it’s money on.

To qualify for incontinence products on the NHS you have to meet very high eligibility criteria, which includes exploring methods of bowel/bladder control before they will authorise padding. They don’t supply for occasional or low levels of incontinence - it’s usually connected to congenital birth defects or other conditions which cause severe incontinence and in a lot of cases, complete absence of control.

A relative has Spina Bifida and has no control over either bladder or bowels. Without NHS support for incontinence the cost of the specialist padding they require would be prohibitive - disability benefits like PIP and AA wouldn’t even begin to cover the cost, and the bed and chair protective products they need in addition to padding are expensive and not available on the NHS.

My elderly mother has no bladder control because of breast cancer and before her padding was NHS supplied it cost upwards of £50 a week - unsustainable on a fixed income.

I agree that there are things which shouldn’t be available on the NHS but I can tell you from experience that incontinence protection is not one of them.

I share your views maddy.

maddyone

I’m not really sure that I agree with the NHS supplying incontinence pads when they are easily available to buy. I think there are far more important things for the NHS to be spending it’s money on.

If you have to care for someone with severe incontinence you may think differently. My MiL used to go through the pads at an alarming rate. On occasion, we would run out of them before her next NHS supply was due to be delivered, and would have to buy some to tide us over. They were very expensive, especially for the ones she required. It would have cost an absolute fortune if we'd had to buy them all the time.

Looks like washable continence pants are available. I've finally found a website.

www.tena.co.uk/women/where-to-purchase.html

Some of these are only for light leaks, others can have an added incontinence pad added:
www.ageukincontinence.co.uk/incontinence-shop/incontinence-by-gender/womens-incontinence-products/washable-pants-for-women.html

Now I just have to see if I can find something in Europe for my MIL.

maddyone

I’m not really sure that I agree with the NHS supplying incontinence pads when they are easily available to buy. I think there are far more important things for the NHS to be spending it’s money on.

I was shocked when my brother came home after his first chemo with about 12 items he didn't want in a pack they give all chemo patients. Creams, perfume spray, perfume roll on, soap, socks, bamboo toothbrush, little jar of honey, pack of tissues, lip balms. I am guessing that they are donated by the companies that make them but even so it still seems such a waste. I imagine they are given to make the patients feel cared for with having to go through such grueling treatment but....

Sorry - important medicines that I need to take

Incidentally I wear a very light Tena Lady most days as when I cough or sneeze I sometimes need that protection. I don’t expect the NHS to provide them, but I do expect it to provide my asthma inhalers and medications, and other improved medicines that I need to take.

I knew people would disagree with me, but I’m not changing my mind. Incontinence pads are personally items, not medications or treatments. Yes they are expensive, but if a person needs the heavy duty ones they will undoubtedly qualify to claim the Independent Living Allowance (if that’s what it’s still called) which is not means tested and is supposed to provide for exactly these sorts of situations.
If everything anyone ever needs was to be provided on the NHS it would be unable to treat all illnesses and conditions. It already struggles to do this and many Gransnetters get very exercised about not having the NHS provide exactly what they want exactly when they need it. The NHS should be concentrating on providing the services that people need, not providing items that come under the ‘social care’ heading. As I said, people need to use their Independent Living Allowance to buy incontinence pads, like my elderly mother did till she was in a care home, where they provided them, but she was self funding in the care home, so paid within her fees.

Caleo

Primrose53, Stress incontinence such as you described is sometimes caused by a gynaecological problem that may be quite easily sorted by exercises .Or treatment, such as drinking more water, to dilute the acid in her urine. She might like to get advice from a doctor or an incontinence nurse.

Thanks. 👍She did see her GP some time ago and she gave her a sheet of exercises to try. I may be wrong but I thought she called it urgency incontinence.

I’m thankful not to need them Shelflife and hopefully never will but I’ve seen first hand how many pads can be required in 24hrs and substantial pads average 45-50p each.

With you there Grannynanny, fortunately I don't need them but I can understand how difficult it is for those who do. Well said !

maddyone I agree with Grannynannywanny it cost a fortune to buy them for mom and had to use her attendance allowance to beable to afford them . My mom didn't want anyone to know she wore them . But for all moms dementia she could let me know she needed the commode and never wet or soiled herself. Funny how dementia robbed her of everything and caused her to be violent but only to me but she managed to keep hold of that. Mom lived with me the last 18 months of her life. I was only allowed 6 months carers allowance as DWP told me my mom would get better she had cancer as well as dementia. In what world would she get better.

DWP are the worst offenders of disabled discrimination.

I’m not really sure that I agree with the NHS supplying incontinence pads when they are easily available to buy. I think there are far more important things for the NHS to be spending it’s money on

I disagree maddyone. They are only easy to buy if the person unfortunate enough to require them is financially able to do so. Someone with significant urinary incontinence might require 5 pads in 24 hours. This could amount to £70-80 per month. That’s a huge outlay for someone who might be struggling to get by on state pension. I wouldn’t grudge them a regular supply of pads after their needs are assessed.

Primrose53, Stress incontinence such as you described is sometimes caused by a gynaecological problem that may be quite easily sorted by exercises .Or treatment, such as drinking more water, to dilute the acid in her urine. She might like to get advice from a doctor or an incontinence nurse.

Easy to find smooth cotton small towels that are easy to wash and dry. Nor adhesive so you also need well fitting knickers.

However if she's incontinent of faeces you would sometimes need to sluice the towels before washing them.

I’m not really sure that I agree with the NHS supplying incontinence pads when they are easily available to buy. I think there are far more important things for the NHS to be spending it’s money on.

Interested as I buy Tena pads. Don’t believe the adverts that tell you that you can leak buckets and still be comfortable and happy. “Ridiculous” I mutter whenever that woman appears in the adverts.

I was in M and S with a friend as my daughter had asked me to get her some Period Pants. My friend said she didn’t know you could get such things. I explained you don’t need pads, the 3 layers just soak up anything and then you pop them in the wash.

She said she sometimes has a urine leak if she coughs or sneezes or if she leaves it too late to go. She bought some (heavy protection) and she says they are great for her.

They come in light, medium and heavy protection.

Yes there are washable ones available and they are surprisingly absorbent. My experience is of caring for a male family member and he had the Y-front variety but I’m sure there will be a female version. They were supplied free of charge by the local authority after an assessment by the continence nurse.

My Mum was given pads from the NHS - they were huge and bulky and were so heavy when wet that they pulled her (elasticated) trousers down. She hated them.
She liked tena.

I think that would be marvellous if there isn’t anything already someone should invent something
There’s lots of adverts for peepants that seem to hold pints all day at least you d only need one or two a day instead of a dozen or more but they wouldn’t be funded would they

I used to put my terries in a lidded bucket in Napisan over night which really wasn’t that gross at all

I’m not much help I’m afraid.
Just wanted to say that if your mother in law is buying her own continence products, it might be worth ask her GP to refer her to the Continence Service for an assessment, she might be able to get free pads etc.