§ Lord Selkirk of Douglasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the proposal in some health boards in Scotland to exclude the supply of incontinence pads from the service provided to incontinent patients by community pharmacies, they will ensure that such pads continue to be supplied in all health board areas; and whether the discontinuance of that service would increase the costs of community pharmacies. [HL2078]
§ Lord SewelThree health boards are considering pilot schemes for integrating all aspects of the continence services provided to patients in their area. Under these schemes the needs of patients would be assessed by clinical specialists in continence, in accordance with national guidelines, giving patients improved access to products appropriate to their needs.78WA Arrangements for the supply of incontinence pads in other health board areas would remain unchanged.
There are no direct costs to community pharmacists as a result of these proposals, although there is a potential loss of revenue in terms of dispensing fees. The purpose of the pilots is to explore the most cost-effective means of providing improved incontinence services to patients.