Continence care pathways: a motorway for urogynaecology

•  Urinary incontinence is common in women and results in medical and psychological morbidity. •  It is associated with a clinically significant decrease in quality of life, comparable with chronic medical conditions. •  Continence is low on the list of priority given to healthcare services. •  NICE guidance aims to overcome variation in referral and treatment.Learning objectives:•  To understand the challenges of developing and implementing continence care pathways. •  To appreciate the importance of consistent care without geographical variation that adheres to national guidelines. •  To learn the value of prompt, appropriate identification of women requiring primary or secondary care. •  To identify evidence‐based treatments.Ethical issues:•  Can the future development of continence services be balanced with meeting the needs of an ageing population?Please cite this article as: Sinha D, Blackwell A, Adams EJ, Moran PA. Continence care pathways: a motorway for urogynaecology. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2008;10:184–193.