The full title of this category is contininence (other than enuresis(bed wetting)).
Continence has eight descriptors. The figures in brackets represent the amount of points awarded if each descriptor is met.
The reason enuresis is excluded from this category is because "with the appropriate personal hygiene, this will not affect the person's functioning whilst awake". The handbook goes on to state that "therefore a person who normally has to resort to pads or special clothing in order to maintain personal hygiene as a result of a lack of control over the bladder would rate the second descriptor".
In a similar vein, the handbook points out that somone who has had an ileostomy in fact has no voluntary control over their bowels. The same principle applies to anyone with an artificially created bowel stoma or similar device."
"Loss of control" is defined as an actual loss of control of the voiding capacity. Minor leakages do not count as loss of control.
"Occasionally" is defined as less than once a month or "happening irregularly with an overall frequency of less than once a month."
"No voluntary control" is defined as "the person is unable to determine by conscious effort , when the bladder or bowels discharge."
A distinction is made between situations where there is constant leakage requiring the use of pads in order to maintain personal hygeine and those situations where mild stress related incontinence occurs. The first example would qualify as "no voluntary control over bladder" whereas the second would not.
Doctors are advised to consider the frequency and length of any journeys undertaken eg-
and to note any problems that the claimant encounters in undertaking these trips.
