People living with incontinence face shortage of sanitary pads as NHS limits supplies

Millions of people across the UK living with incontinence are facing shortages of sanitary products due to supplies being rationed by NHS trusts, according to a coalition of charities.

The shortages are leading to a “pad gap” where people are having to pay for incontinence products themselves, according to an open letter from organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, Prostate Cancer UK, and Bowel and Bladder UK.

Around 14 million people across the UK experience incontinence. Healthcare workers in the NHS expect to fit up to five pads a day for patients who experience incontinence, according to research, but freedom of information data from 110 NHS trusts show that more than half (53%) have a cap on the availability of products.

Of these trusts, 34% have a cap of three products a day, while the remaining 66% have a cap of four products a day, which is lower than the expected need.

As a consequence of the shortages, many people with incontinence and their families are forced to use their pension or personal independence payment (PIP) to purchase these products while struggling to cover other basic costs.

According to the letter, these measures represent a “once in a generation opportunity to improve health outcomes for all” that will benefit people who experience incontinence and ease the burden on NHS staff and carers.

Prof Alison Leary, the deputy president of the Royal College of Nursing, said she often heard from nurses who were concerned about the shortages of incontinence products. “The effective rationing of incontinence products means that staff and patients both suffer – patients do not get the dignified care they need and nursing colleagues feel they are not meeting patients’ fundamental needs,” Leary added.

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Source: The Guardian, 6 April 2026