Members' Business - Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP: Incontinence in Scotland - 16 November 2017
Channel: The Scottish Parliament
Date: 16/11/2017

Alex Cole-Hamilton: Incontinence in Scotland—That the Parliament understands
that incontinence has the potential to affect everyone at some point and that the
condition can arise as a symptom of a range of varied medical conditions, such as obesity,
traumatic childbirth and muscle weakness; believes that 20% of women between 17 and 30 will
experience so-called giggle incontinence, which has the potential to lead to greater complications
in later life, in particular the need for surgical interventions, including transvaginal mesh implants;
understands that the only country to have calculated the costs associated with this is Australia,
which estimates these to be around $43 billion (£25 billion) per year as they go beyond the
provision of sanitary wear, medication and surgery, and include the cost of dealing with the
depression and anxiety that can arise; recognises what it sees as the importance of physiotherapy
in alleviating the symptoms, and notes that, when provided early, this has reportedly proved
effective in 80% of cases; understands that there is no formal training around basic incontinence
prevention in Scotland for the midwifery, health visitor or physiotherapist workforce; acknowledges
the taboo around the subject, which, it believes, suppresses an open discussion about it and
often prevents people experiencing the condition from seeking help, and notes the view that the
case for a national incontinence strategy is compelling, as it would be important to improving the
life quality of hundreds of thousands of people in Edinburgh and across the country and would be
of benefit to the public purse.

Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

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