To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the consultation on stoma care and urology care services; how many (a) individuals and (b) organisations have responded; what account has been taken of the potential impact of change on users, with particular reference to proposals on the direct supply of appliances and ancilliary items; and if she will make a statement. (117970)

The consultation regarding the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances—and related services - to primary care is ongoing.

Three consultation papers closed on 2 April 2007; these were:

Arrangements for the reimbursement pricing of stoma and incontinence appliances under Part IX of the Drug Tariff;

Arrangements for the remuneration of services relating to appliances within Part IX of the Drug Tariff; and

Proposed Amendments to the Regulatory Terms of Service of Pharmacy and Appliance

Contractors in relation to Dispensing Items Listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

The Department has received a significant level of response to these consultations. The majority of these responses were submitted by industry, dispensing appliance contractors, pharmacy contractors, clinicians, patient groups and individual patients.

As the consultation process is intended to enable interested parties to comment and put forward their points of view on departmental proposals and to provide information that may be relevant to final policy making decisions, the Department is considering all these responses very carefully.

However, an overriding objective continues to be the maintenance and where appropriate the improvement of patient care. This includes the direct supply of items and ancillary services.