SPECIALIST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR INCONTINENCE AND STOMA PATIENTS

Early day motion 1078, tabled 28 February 2008 by Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 51 members.

That this House notes that 450,000 people use stoma or incontinence items to manage their health conditions; recognises that modern stoma and incontinence products enable these people to maintain their quality of life, retain their dignity, continue working and avoid repeated hospital episodes; notes that the consultation on Department of Health proposals to introduce major price cuts for these specialist products as part of a broad review of stoma and incontinence products and services has now closed; welcomes the ongoing involvement of many patients in the review process; acknowledges patients' concerns that the implementation of the proposals may lead to the withdrawal of the most specialised medical devices thus causing major disruption to vulnerable people and reducing patient choice; notes that product withdrawals would also greatly increase the demands on overworked specialist nurses who would be required to reassess patient needs and prescribe alternative products; therefore welcomes the Department of Health's commitment to consult further on the impact of their proposals and conduct full impact assessment; and calls on the Department of Health to listen to the concerns of patient organisations, industry, NHS professionals and all other stakeholders to ensure that any changes to the current payment system do not lead to withdrawal of specialist NHS prescription products or otherwise adversely impact upon patients' quality of life.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 4, DUP 3, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.