The written answer by Parliamentary under secretary of state, Preet Kaur Gill, came after MPs called for an end to continence pad rationing.

Responding to a question from Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford and member of the Adult Social Care APPG, Gill, said: ‘The Department expects services to follow National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidance and the Royal College of Nursing standards. These emphasise that continence care should be safe, effective, and uphold dignity, including provision of products that meet clinical need and are of appropriate quality.'

Yasin said: ‘Everyone deserves continence care that protects their dignity, health, and independence. Access to the right continence products should never be determined by arbitrary limits or local cost-cutting measures, but by an individual's assessed clinical need.

‘The Government's reaffirmation of this principle, in line with NICE guidance and Royal College of Nursing standards, is a welcome step. Continence care is a basic right. This principle must now be applied consistently across every NHS trust so that no one is left without the support they need simply because of where they live.'