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1240/5(6393)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 20th JUNE 2011
Question
Will the Minister state what alternatives, if any, she has to replace the service provided by Family Nursing and Home Care (FNHC) for the supply of dressings and dietary supplies and advise –
- what progress she has made in finding a new supplier;
- whether any new supplier will be able to deliver the same level of service at less cost;
- why a new supplier was not arranged prior to the closure of the FNHC service?
Answer
- HSSD is in the very final stages of concluding a four month procurement process and a decision regarding a new provider will be taken imminently. HSSD will circulate details to all users of the subsidised products service as soon details are finalised.
It is important to note that HSSD is seeking a new provider for its subsidised products scheme. This scheme includes a range of different supplies and products such as dietary, stoma and continence but it does not include the full range of medical and clinical products, including some forms of wound dressing, currently used by FNHC community nurses in the course of their work. Patients currently pay for these wound dressings and will continue to do so.
FNHC nurses will continue to carry a full range of dressing and supplies (in accordance with the joint HSSD/FNHC wound formulary) and will therefore be able to meet the clinical needs of patients. However, where a patient has a long-term need for a particular dressing FNHC will, if appropriate, encourage that patient to get dressings direct from a pharmacist, under a home delivery scheme, in order that supplies may be appropriately managed.
- Whilst details cannot be released yet, it is envisaged that the new provider will offer improvements to the service. Further information on costs and pricing is commercially confidential until the contract has been signed.
The need to contract out to another provider was a result of an FNHC decision not to continue with the scheme. FNHC did not consider it a core activity. In addition, the store facility required by FNHC to run the scheme was a loss making activity. Had the scheme remained with FNHC costs would have needed to rise.
- There will be no gap in service delivery. HSSD has been working with FNHC to ensure a smooth transition and it has been agreed that the date of transition to a new provider will be deferred to the 18 July allowing more time to communicate with all existing clients.