Wetting yourself. It’s no laughing matter.

"People’s reaction to my problem is horrible. They laugh or snigger or make rude remarks. But I suffer from a medical condition like many others the only difference is that it affects my bowels. I wish society would accept that continence problems are not indecent - they need to be treated like any other medical condition."

These are the words of Jane Russell, one of the six million Britons who will at some point in their lives suffer from continence problems. The Manifesto for Continence, organised by patient support group, Incontact, aims to help sufferers like Jane by removing the stigma and giving voice to what people like her need. The Manifesto involved the largest ever patient consultation of its kind undertaken in the UK, compiling the views of 300,000 UK citizens.

Jolyon Rose, Executive Director of Incontact, commented, "People with continence problems should not feel as though they cannot speak out. Incontinence is a common problem but people don’t realise that they are not alone or that help is available. The Manifesto for Continence is designed to bring such problems into the public eye and to take steps towards breaking down the taboo that surrounds them."

The manifesto addresses the big issues facing incontinence sufferers and is supported by 17 of the UK’s largest patient and carers charities. The full results of the manifesto will be made available on the 11^th September 2001.