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PCT cost cutting hitting urology care
A report by the Urology Trade Association
Dr Allan Tennant writes
5th of January 2010
Last month Dr David Baker, CEO of the DDA, met with the Urology Trade Association (UTA). He discussed with them the DDA's views on the current state of play in the urology appliance market.
The UTA have produced a briefing document, A Post Code Lottery to the Detriment of Continence Patients to inform Members of Parliament and wider stakeholders and we are pleased to provide it for readers of DDA Online.
The main concerns are
Restrictive local formularies imposed by PCTs
One size does not fit all in complex urological problems.
Single company tenders restricting patient choice to PCT choice.
The use of generics instead of more complex products will result in a loss of R&D.
What the UTA wants is:
Issue strict guidance to PCTs that ensure that local formularies and tenders do not restrict patient choice and;
Put in place a system to monitor the practices of PCTs, ensuring that commissioning processes are informed by experienced clinicians and not to the detriment of continence patients.
We have sympathy with the UTA concerns and conclusions and believe that these are shared and can be applied to many of the medicines and other products that we prescribe.