If you or someone you care for gets continence products through the NHS, you may have found that the delivery doesn’t always stretch as far as you need it to. You’re not alone, and there are practical steps you can take. This guide explains why the allowance can fall short, how to ask for a review, and how to top up the gaps with confidence.
Why the NHS allowance can run short
NHS continence products are usually supplied after an assessment by your local continence service, and the number of products per day is set as part of that assessment. Many services also have a daily maximum. Freedom of Information data reported in the healthcare press found that more than half of NHS trusts cap the number of products a patient can receive, with around a third limiting it to three a day and most of the rest to four.
National guidance from NICE says continence products should be provided according to individual need. In practice, though, many families find there are gaps, especially:
- At night, when an extra change or extra bed protection makes a big difference to sleep and comfort
- When needs change, for example after illness or a change in mobility
- Bed and chair protection, which may not be part of the supply at all
- Away from home, on trips, family visits or hospital appointments
- Care essentials such as wipes, cleansing gloves and disposable bibs
Step 1: Ask for a reassessment
If the products you receive no longer meet your needs, contact your local continence or bladder and bowel service and ask for a reassessment. Reassessments usually happen at least once a year, but you don’t have to wait if things have changed. Before you call, it can help to keep a simple note for a few days of how many changes are needed, day and night. Your continence nurse is the right person to advise on which products and how many are suitable for you.
Step 2: Work out where the gaps are
Once you know what your NHS supply covers, it’s easier to see what’s missing. For many families, the gap isn’t the main daytime product but the things around it: bed protection for nights, a few extra products for busy days, and the everyday care items that make changes quicker and more comfortable.
Step 3: Top up only what you need
Topping up doesn’t mean replacing your NHS supply. It means filling the specific gaps, so everyone stays comfortable and the supply lasts. Common top-ups include:
- Disposable bed pads (inco sheets) to help protect the mattress and bedding. Our Me Confy Disposable Bed Pads are 60 x 90cm, hold up to 700ml and come 20 to a pack. See the full inco sheets range for other sizes.
- Extra pads or pull-ons for nights, outings or busy days. If you’re not sure which type to choose, our Help Me Choose page can point you in the right direction.
- Care essentials such as wipes and cleansing gloves.
If you top up regularly, Subscribe & Save delivers every 4 weeks with 10% off, so you don’t have to remember to reorder.
Step 4: Check whether you can buy VAT-free
HMRC guidance says people who are incontinent and live in their own homes are entitled to buy incontinence products at the zero rate of VAT. At Me Confy you can claim disability VAT relief at checkout on eligible incontinence products. Some items, such as wipes and shampoo caps, don’t qualify.
You don’t have to manage it alone
Me Confy was started from first-hand caregiving experience, to give families a reliable, dignified top-up for when the allocation isn’t quite enough. If you have a question about which product might suit your situation, get in touch. We’re happy to help.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own continence needs, please speak to your GP or continence nurse.