The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7447 p417
14 April 2007

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Stoma reimbursement changes criticised

Proposed changes to the reimbursement of stoma and incontinence supplies in England will exacerbate the problem of products having to be dispensed at a loss, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has warned.

In a combined response to three Government consultations (PJ, 10 March, p270), the PSNC argues that the proposal to ban agency agreements will reduce patient access to stoma and incontinence appliances by increasing the number of times contractors are faced with supplying an appliance at a loss or refusing to dispense one. The PSNC also criticises the Department of Health’s financial assessments, describing the costing information provided so far as “wholly unrealistic”.

In its response to the consultations, the National Pharmacy Association says it is “totally unacceptable” that the Government has not addressed the issue of nurse posts being sponsored by appliance manufacturers. The NPA is also critical of the Government’s cost calculations, particularly those relating to specialist nurse visits and the delivery of appliances.