Patients Industry and Professional Forum
Published: 18 September 2012
The Patients Industry and Professional Forum (PIPS) for stoma and continence products meets three times a year.
PIPS aims
The aims of the forum are:
- through partnership, work to safeguard standards of patient care and promote best practice
- through collaborative working, provide a forum for debate to improve patient care and services
- make representation to the government on relevant issues and formulate a co-ordinated response to consultation documents
- ensure that patients/carers have access to the information they want in order to make choices about their care, choice of provider and choice of treatment (Equity and Excellence: Liberalising the NHS, July 2010, DH).
Who is represented?
Patient groups:
- The Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group (IA)
- Colostomy Association
- Bladder and Bowel Foundation
- Spinal Injuries Association
- Urostomy Association.
Professional groups:
- Association for Continence Advice
- Association for Nurse Prescribing
- The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland Nurses Forum
- Bladder and Bowel Foundation
- Paediatric Stoma Nurses Group
- Promocon
- Royal College of Nursing – Gastroenterology Forum
- Royal College of Nursing – Continence Care Forum
- World Council of Enterostomal Therapists UK.
Industry:
- groups represented by the British Healthcare Trades Association
- dispensing appliance contractors
- stoma and continence product manufacturers.
Discussion topics
Recently we have discussed issues around concerns and experiences some patients have had passing through airport security, including issues around fluid in the leg bags of sheath patients and body searches of people with various ostomies. We are waiting for a greater body of evidence, as the problems seem to be in the minority and at present we encourage patients to go through the checks normally.
The group has sought a legal opinion on the alternative local arrangements happening in some primary care trusts (PCTs), as it is felt that there should be an even playing field for all listed in the drug tariff, as agreed by the Secretary of State.
The group has discussed the Health and Social Care Bill and any qualified provider and issues that may arise from these changes. We are also going to investigate why some anaesthetic gels are not listed in the British National Formulary and yet have an active ingredient (lignocaine) present.
For further information, please contact Stephen Miles on smiles3@nhs.net.