Patient's champion awarded for tackling taboo subject

Jacq Emkes headed to the House of Commons to receive her Continence Patient Champion award from Bedford and Kempston MP Richard Fuller at the National Continence Care Awards.

The NHS estimates more than 14 million adults in the UK suffer with bladder control problems and 6.5 million with bowel control problems, many of whom will suffer in silence.

Jacq received the award in recognition of her efforts to campaign for better continence care for patients.

Speaking after the awards, Richard said: “I was delighted to present Jacq with the award and to thank her for all her hard work in raising awareness about the impact of the condition in order to improve the lives of those living with incontinence in Bedford and beyond.”

He added incontinence is still a taboo subject, with almost half (45 per cent) of people with the condition waiting at least five years before they get help, and can have a devastating impact on an individual’s quality of life, leading to avoidable complications, such as infections, pressures sores and falls and is second only to dementia as a reason for admission to residential care.