Incontinence pads.

Replies

By incompletely

Re: Incontinence pads.
Thu 1 Feb 2007 18:08

they are free her Valerie,
but from what hear I think theres a lot of differences between you and the services we recieve in Scotland.

By J.T

Re: Incontinence pads.
Thu 1 Feb 2007 18:12

Hi Val,
I paid for pads for 4 years until we moved house now no problem, District Nurse is responsable and should refer you to incontinence service to order, that fails G.P, that fails Hospital Urolagy, that fails, move house, seriously they don't tell you. Our previous D.N said we don't supply they also tell lies.

By Jean_M

Re: Incontinence pads.
Thu 1 Feb 2007 20:12

Complain, loud, long and as near to the top as possible.
Seems to be the only way to get anywhere these days

By ValerieN

Re: Incontinence pads.
Mon 5 Feb 2007 15:33

Thank you all for your replys. I`ll try dads GP again but I don`t hold out much hope.

By llizzie

Re: Incontinence pads.
Thu 10 May 2007 16:54

Scrolling down I found this discussion which I had missed before. I am in Oxfordshire.My husband was incontinen in 2002 and I asked about pads.I was told they were not available on prescription, but a District Nurse did give me three re-usable pants, and I bought ten at about £15 each.However it was difficult because with men you have to undress them,shoes and all, to change them.I made another appeal for pads but was denied.I tried to join a carers forum locally to find out what other people did, but was refused for a reason I am mystified by. I continued to beg and was refused.Eventually, in 2005 after spending up to £100 a month (and from 2002 to 2005 the S>S>were giving care we did not want,as I explained elsewhere and ignored my pleas for help - they knew he was incontinent) I contacted our MP (it was election year) because I thought it needed a campaign as I thought we could not be the only ones in the county, yet until now I wondered whether we were.Our MP sent us the policy statement of West Oxon Primary Care Trust which stated then (2004) that they had been supplying them free for 7 years. When I rang the number on the letter I was told ''we won't speak to you because you contacted your MP'', which made me mad to say the least. With this poliscy statement I then went back to the District Nurses and they admitted that they were available - but not on prescription from the GP. the DN's ordered them and distributed them. I received the first lot in July, but they ran out by November and I had to buy them (I have kept all the receipts from 2002) and begged, and begged and pleaded for some more. I eventually got some more in feb 2005. By then he was doubly incontinent. He had even spent a time in Wtney Community hospital where the incontinence advice service was based, and the knew he needed them. I contacted Incontinence charities, Age Concern, Help the Aged, spent hours on the telephone. I phoned NHS direct, in tears because our funds were low and I only had two pads left. They gave me the number of an incontinence charity who contacted the Surgery for me, and I wa able to get 2 packs. My daughter was also trying to get some for me. You see supermarkets only ssell babies and light women's pads, and chemists don't stock them because they take up too much room, so you have to order them in bulk from a wholesaler. Last year was, I think the first year we actually started getting them regularly. The heartache in doing so was awful. I did not know about this site then.
Now we get them all the time, and do not have to beg any more because our District Nurse makes sure we don't run out. My husband is 85, and it has been an uphill struggle to get the pads, having no help from anyone except NHS Direct and the Incontinence charity. They are available free, but they have to come out of someone's budget. I still do not know whose budget it is. It could be the GP's, so it is hard on the area with a lot of elderly etc. people. They are not available on prescription, true, and told that it is easy to think they are not available at all, but the system is through the District Nurses. Also, people in nursing homes should get them free.The cost should not be added to their bill!!

By Pysie

Re: Incontinence pads.
Fri 11 May 2007 11:21

Hi, all,

Mum gets them delivered free - arranged through DN.

The Continence Foundation seems to indicate they should be free under NHS. The Foundation has a help-line where you can ask any questions and find out your 'nearest NHS specialist continence service':-

0845 345 0165

www.continence-foundation.org.uk

Love
Pysie

By SocialHeretic

Re: Incontinence pads.
Fri 11 May 2007 11:53

Here in North Suffolk , same as per Pysie post ...... at least one service currently not subject to a cutback ...... yet !

By jessie darcy

Re: Incontinence pads.
Fri 11 May 2007 17:22

Here in london i have just found out that you can get adult (dippers)free the ones with the velcro at the sides great no more struggling with the hoist no more cutting at the sides.
jessie darcy

By ValerieN

Re: Incontinence pads.
Tue 15 May 2007 20:04

Thanks everyone for the replies. It says something about this country when we have to fight for such a basic commodity.

By llizzie

Re: Incontinence pads.
Tue 15 May 2007 20:38

The continence foundation helped me too. You have to keep asking. Now the DN brings them in good time,but it wasn't always so. They are available free. How many you get depends on the incontinence. We get more now for double incontinence, and they have the tabs at the side, so I do not have to take shoes and trousers off to change them. For double incontinence you get FOUR A DAY but I'm not pressing my luck - we seem to be managing.