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Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Volume 470: debated on Monday 7 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether dispensing contractors will be allowed to contract out a full dispensing service of appliances to other organisations under 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. (176932)

Annex B of the consultation “Arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances—and related services—to Primary Care. Revised Proposals” sets out a number of proposals relating to essential services provided by dispensing appliance contractors and pharmacy contractors.

One of these proposals states that both dispensing appliance and pharmacy contractors should—if they cannot dispense the prescription item—be able to pass a prescription form to another dispensing contractor with the patient’s consent—provided that they do not receive either a gift or a reward from the other dispensing contractor.

This does not preclude dispensing contractors working together in a commercial manner in order to provide a full dispensing service to patients in relation to Part IXA (catheter), Part IXB (incontinence related) or Part IXC (stoma) prescription items.