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In 2005 and 2006, the Department published two consultation papers addressing the supply of medical consumables to the NHS.  These were “Arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care” and “Arrangements for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related support services to patients under Part IX of the Drug Tariff”.  The Department has completed its current review of Dressings and Reagents and now proposes to address items and services related to stoma and incontinence appliances within Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

In this, and two other related consultations, the Department is consulting on changes to the arrangement for the items and services related to stoma and incontinence appliances and wishes to:

• Maintain, and where applicable improve, the current quality of care to patients;
• Secure value for money for the NHS;
• Ensure equitable payment for equivalent services and transparent reimbursement pricing;
• Work in partnership to deliver fair prices for the NHS and reasonable returns for suppliers and contractors;
• Facilitate the introduction of innovative solutions;
• Maintain local choice in the provision of services; and
• Keep administration arrangements to the necessary minimum.

The Department proposes to improve the classification of items within Part IX of the Drug Tariff to ensure that products of similar medical need can be comparatively priced.

In addition, the Department believes that current reimbursement prices for some stoma and incontinence appliances may not represent value for money for the NHS or taxpayers.  Therefore, it proposes to make reductions to these Drug Tariff reimbursement prices with effect from June 2007.

The Department seeks views both on the proposed product reclassification and price reimbursement reductions. In particular, where alternative views are proposed, we would request supporting quantitative evidence.