Inaccessible, unacceptable and unaccountable: the provision of paediatric continence supplies in England, Wales and Scotland

Professor Luke Clements, Dr Ana Laura Aiello, and School of Law students collaborate on major new report on continence supplies for disabled children.

The report, Inaccessible, unacceptable and unaccountable: the provision of paediatric continence supplies in England, Wales and Scotland, is published by Cerebra, the UK charity working for children with brain conditions. It was written in collaboration with the School of Law and the Parent and Carer Alliance CI.

It identifies a wholesale failure by the Governments in England, Scotland and Wales to publish ‘fit-for-purpose’ guidance requiring the provision of dignified, accessible, non-discriminatory and properly resourced continence services in the three nations.

Professor Luke Clements, the lead author, says:

Disabled children – like all children – have a huge need to be ‘included’: to have a happy childhood; to make friends; to enjoy their schooling and so much more. All disabled children encounter problems in this respect, and these problems can be a thousandfold greater if they have bladder and bowel difficulties.

The report has the following five messages:

• Impact of Inadequate Provision: Disabled children face severe indignities, violating their human rights, disrupting their education, and causing discrimination.
• Failure of Accountability: There is a lack of governmental guidance, leading to inconsistent paediatric continence services, especially in England where most NHS bodies lack information on these services.
• Discrimination: Eligibility criteria for support often violate dignity and are discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010.
• School Impacts: Disabled children experience traumatic school environments due to poor quality continence products, leading to bullying and shame.
• Poverty: Families face severe financial hardship due to the costs of inadequate continence products, impacting their overall quality of life.

Students from the School of Law played a key part in this report, and they say:

I loved working with Ana and Luke on this project.  I learned a lot and I am very proud to have been a part of it.  Hopefully I can work with them again sometime.

 I have just finished reading this research report, and it is fantastic and very moving. I really was honoured to be a part of it, work with Luke and Ana, and hear parents' testimonials.

The School of Law team also hosted an online webinar held on the 4 March 2025 concerning the report. It provided an opportunity to discuss the findings from the report and the possible best way forward. The event was well attended, with key stakeholders including leading NGOs and parent carers. Feedback from participants was very positive.

To read more about the report click here.