Withdrawal of continence products and disruption to services
The Department of Health is currently reviewing the prices the NHS pays for stoma and urology incontinence prescription items and the way in which payments for services are calculated. Through product price reductions, the Department intends to save £25m a year. A consultation was held which closed at the end of 2007.
Although no final decisions have been made, the MS Trust has serious concerns about the potential impact of these proposals on the future provision of products and services to users who rely on them to maintain their quality of life. Manufacturers and specialist nurses have echoed this apprehension.
We are working with a range of other organisations representing users of urology appliances and services to communicate these concerns to the Department and to ensure that any changes do not impact upon patient wellbeing. We are committed to finding an outcome which preserves services to all patients and ensures the future supply of high quality, innovative urology appliances. We will of course keep you updated on the latest developments.
- User Group Coalition position statement - issued July 2008