Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that the care of patients with major (a) continence and (b) prolapse issues is expedited as covid-19 restrictions are eased in recognition of the increase in waiting times for provision of that care that has accrued to those patients as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

NHS England understands the need for improved services and care to be consistently available for those suffering from bladder and bowel problems. The approach remains to make full use of available capacity, both in the National Health Service and in contracted independent hospitals, to maintain elective activity as far as possible.

Working with and agreed by the Royal Colleges, a national clinical stratification programme has been established to make sure that every patient waiting for surgery, including patients with major continence and prolapse issues, can partake in decision-making discussions regarding their treatment. This will also include the assignment of a priority code to ensure that patients with the greatest clinical need are prioritised for treatment.