Helpline
Need to talk, need support? What is our helpline for?
We’re working with the British Society of Rheumatology, the British Society of Gastroenterology and other patient charities to campaign for a review of homecare medicine delivery services in England and Scotland.
Homecare medicine delivery services help you personalise your care and take control of your treatment plan. However, there are deep, systemic and long-standing failures in these services, which put your care at risk and adds pressure on an already stretched IBD workforce.
Delayed and cancelled medicine deliveries. Medicines that arrive without a nurse. Hours spent on the phone trying to get an answer. These are just some of the issues that you have told us about.
That’s why we are calling for a review into the safety of Homecare Medicine Delivery providers, which commits to the following:
Nobody should have their mental or physical health compromised because of a substandard service. If people with Crohn’s or Colitis do not receive their medicines on time they can experience serious complications, which may require emergency medical treatment or even surgery. Lifelong health conditions are stressful enough without having to worry about missed deliveries and chasing customer services.
Ruth Wakeman, Director of Services, Advocacy and Evidence
After six months of campaigning, in June the House of Lords Public Services Committee launched an inquiry into the current state of Homecare Medicine Services with an aim to regulate and improve the quality of services. This inquiry was the first time the sector, now worth £2bn annually, has been evaluated by policymakers in over a decade.
The long awaited findings from the inquiry have concluded that the current homecare system is unnecessarily complex and lacks transparency, regulation and enforcement. The committee were also deeply concerned by the lack of ownership of these services not only to drive improvements but to realise their full potential. The Committee backed our call for a full-scale independant review into the homecare system. Find out more here.
We will continue to work with the British Society of Rheumatology, the British Society of Gastroenterology and other patient charities to ensure that the recommendations from the inquiry are taken forward by the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England.
We are also working closely with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland on their review of homecare medicine services. We will keep you updated on progress as it unfolds.
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We know it can be difficult to live with, or support someone living with these conditions. But you’re not alone. We provide up-to-date, evidence-based information and can support you to live well with Crohn’s or Colitis.
Our helpline team can help by:
Providing information about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Listening and talking through your situation.
Helping you to find support from others in the Crohn’s and Colitis community.
Signposting you to specialist organisations.
Please be aware we’re not medically or legally trained. We cannot provide detailed financial or benefits advice or specialist emotional support.
Please contact us via telephone, email or LiveChat - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except English bank holidays).
If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help.
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