Lessons learnt from other countries: what are their policies for incontinence and urinary health?

In fact, there are policies and pathways in countries like Australia, Japan and France and Sweden that could offer good learning potential for the UK and improve our bladder care pathways. Let's take a look:

Australia: Prioritising Awareness and Education

In Australia, they have a proactive approach to incontinence that's really made people sit up and take notice. Since it's inception in 1999, the National Continence Programme has emphasised early intervention and prevention through education and awareness. It's a comprehensive system where women are empowered with knowledge about their bodies and it's taboo-breaking as it advocates that bladder healthcare is 'the norm'.

Think of it as a sort of preventative care. It's not just about treating the symptoms when they show up, but importantly, it's about understanding our bodies and recognising the early signs of trouble. This holistic approach has created a true shift in how bladder care is perceived and handled - something we could adopt in the UK to support those dealing with incontinence.

France: Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

France has taken a rather innovative approach to treating urinary incontinence with a strong focus on postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation. French women don't just get six-week postpartum checkups. like we have in the UK (if at all, let's face it!). Rather, they receive 'la rééducation périnéale' - up to 20 physiotherapy sessions to restore the pelvic floor, close the abdominal muscles and strengthen the core - all with a view to reducing the risk of incontinence later on.

This approach acknowledges the physical changes that pregnancy and childbirth can bring about. If we integrated similar services into our healthcare system in the UK, it could lead to early intervention, preventing incontinence from becoming a life-long issue for many women.

Japan: Technological Innovation and Supportive Infrastructure

For many of us, Japan is famous for their technological innovations, so it will be of no surprise that they've applied this mindset to managing incontinence too. They've developed products that help manage symptoms discretely and efficiently, such as high-quality absorbent products and cutting-edge urinals for women - yes really!

Alongside this, their society respects and supports the elderly and those with medical needs, and this has resulted in public restrooms designed for easy accessibility. This kind of thoughtfulness in public policy and infrastructure can create an environment where incontinence isn't a barrier to living life to the fullest.

Sweden - Comprehensive Research and Support Systems

Lastly, let's take a look at Sweden. Their strength lies in in-depth research and comprehensive support systems. Sweden's healthcare system actively invests in research to better understand incontinence, its causes, and effective treatments.

Sweden also provides substantial support for those living with incontinence, including counselling and specialised nursing services. An investment in research coupled with comprehensive support would go a long way towards improving urinary health care in the UK.

Conclusion

Incontinence and urinary health are a worldwide issue and by learning from the approaches and policies of other countries - from Australia's focus on education, France's postpartum care, Japan's technological innovations, to Sweden's investment in research and support - we can pave the way for better bladder health care in the UK.