As a result of auditing stoma prescribing practices and the effect on both patients and health economy, GP’s invested money in the colorectal service to fund a clinical nurse specialist to review stoma patients in 17 GP surgeries (Williams, I Gastrointestinal Nursing Sept 2013 Vol 11, Issue 7, 36-44)

The reviews focussed on determining if GP’s were repeat prescribing for individual patients in an appropriate manner, the patients received the most appropriate products and the correct monthly amounts were administered. Although the work aimed to identify the cost benefits associated with a review and rationalisation of patient prescriptions, ensuring timely and expert follow up was a key quality driver.

In total 429 patients were reviewed in 17 surgeries and there were significant cost savings demonstrated in some of the reviews.

The annual stoma costs for the surgeries prior to reviews was £531,694.86 and there was total potential annual savings of £115,125.10.