A Cheshire and Merseyside NHS provider collaborative reports that a Central Cheshire bladder and bowel service, which began offering washable continence products in a 2024 trial, is being expanded across the region. The collaborative says 54% of patients offered washable products had chosen them by early 2026.
According to its September 11 report, the shift avoided an estimated 468 disposable pads a day, equivalent to 170,820 a year. It also reports an estimated annual reduction of 4.5–6 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and a lower cost for the particular patient pathway it assessed. The collaborative and the region's integrated care board are supporting further adoption.
These are figures from the local programme, not results from a controlled comparison of all washable and disposable products. The report does not establish that the same uptake, savings or patient experience would apply elsewhere.