The great non-event of 1999 must have been the long awaited government Review of Continence Services; required by the previous junior Health Minister, Paul Boetang, to be delivered in early 1999: it eventually appeared in Spring 2000! ACA members have been fully involved with both the Working and Reference Groups, with the Professional Development Officer, Veronica Haggar, seconded to the Department of Health to assist with the final draft for Ministers. Unfortunately instead of coming out as "Action Guidance", which is mandatory, the document has been issued as guidance on "Best Practice. There was however personal endorsement from the Minister for Health, saying that he is keen to see this guidance implemented within the NHS. The ACA is currently working with its members to ensure that they take a strategic, proactive approach to the guidance.

Other interesting developments are within the Eastern Health and Social Services Board of Northern Ireland. A strategic development for Continence led by the Board has made some outstanding achievements during the year. The ACA, in partnership with the Board and Help the Aged Northern Ireland, appointed a Continence Strategy Implementation Officer, Claire McCammon. Claire has been working on implementing the strategy from April 1999, as well as supporting the work of the ACA Northern Ireland. Perhaps the most tangible achievement has been in education and training with the production of a comprehensive training manual. Of equal importance has been the work to develop a Commissioning Statement from the Board, which will be implemented by the Belfast area NHS Trusts for the year 2001. ACA members from those NHS Trusts have been crucially involved at every stage of this development.

The Millennium Conference, ‘Continence - A Global Partnership’, was addressed by a variety of international speakers led by Queen Thandi, of Zulu Natal. There were a record number of abstracts submitted, including several from overseas. New this year was the introduction of two annual ACA bursaries enabling delegates from developing countries to attend conference.

Our 21^st conference in Torquay in 2001 will be a celebration of our coming of age. The dates are 21^st - 24^th May; further information can be gained from the Conference Secretariat, Davies Cahill, Tel: 44 (0) 1275 340331, fax: 4 (0) 12745 349081 and email: davies_cahill@cableinet.co.uk

Some of the most exciting developments from the ACA have been international: two associations with the same aspirations as us have been formed. Firstly, in Austria, ÖVKB, by a group of nurses, many of whom are ACA members. Secondly, CASA in South Africa, by a group of nurses and doctors covering all of South Africa, following the visit of Dr Margaret Fockema to the UK last autumn.

Finally, given all these international developments, it seemed appropriate to consider a network of organisations that could share developments and work to improve knowledge and standards. As a result ENCO, the European Network of Continence Organisations, has been formed and a European Congress is planned in Le Touquet, France from 9^th - 12^th October 2001. Further information is available on the website: www.enco.org.uk and email: info@enco.org.uk

Veronica Haggar