The CCG has been looking to improve the way that patients receive their stoma products and accessories and their access to ongoing care and support.

A new service has been commissioned to enhance the care that people using stoma products receive. The intent of this new service is to improve the long-term care that patients with a stoma receive.  The service is planned to oversee all aspects of your stoma product prescribing and provide stoma-related support and advice.

This means that GP practices will no longer issue prescriptions for stoma products such as stoma bags, base plates, adhesive remover. Instead, these prescriptions will now be issued by the Merseyside & Region Stoma Service (MARSS). This service will be run by a team of specialist stoma care nurses and personal stoma advisors.

The way in which your stoma products are delivered to you WILL NOT change.

You will be able to continue using the same Dispensing Appliance Contractor (delivery service) or community pharmacy that you currently use. You can also decide to change this at any time.

The Merseyside and Region Stoma Service will not replace the care that you may be currently receiving from the specialist nurses at your local hospital. 

This service will work alongside the specialist teams at the following NHS hospitals

• Wirral University Teaching Hospital
• Liverpool University Hospitals (Aintree, Royal Liverpool, Broadgreen)
• Warrington Hospital
• Whiston Hospital

What do I need to do?

• There is no need to do anything now. When it’s closer to the time for you to be registered on the new service, you will receive a letter giving you warning and a definite date for this and remind you what will happen next
• You will then automatically be registered you onto the new service.
• Once you are registered for the service you will receive a welcome telephone call from one of the new stoma service personal advisors to introduce you to the service and explain how it work
• In the meantime, you should continue to order your stoma items and any other prescription items, such as medication from your GP in the usual way.

We would like your views on these changes.

We are organising several events to engage with patients to discuss this new service and answer any questions you may have.

We have organised the following online information sessions:

• Thursday March 4th at 2PM
• Tuesday March 23^rd at 2PM
• Tuesday March 23^rd at 7PM

At the session we will tell you more about our plans and give you an opportunity to ask questions. We will also be looking for volunteers to join our patient panel so that the views of patients and their carers can be heard as we mobilise this new service.

The sessions will be the same, so you only need to attend one session.  If you would like to attend, please email Sue Blackwell: sblackwell@bullens.com or telephone 0800 915 9046.

Read the patient information leaflet which will provide more information on the Merseyside & Region Stoma Service along with some frequently asked questions.

If you have any further questions or would like more information you can:

Telephone 8000 915 9046

Email prescriptionservice.bhg@nhs.net

Visit the website: www.merseysideandregionstomaservice.nhs.uk/