The service can be provided by pharmacies that normally provide stoma appliances in the normal course of their business.  The conditions that must be satisfied are that:

1) The pharmacy must notify the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) that it wishes to provide the service before beginning to provide the service. The Advanced Services Declaration form on the NHSBSA website can be used to make this declaration.

2) The pharmacy must notify the local NHS England team that it wishes to provide the service before beginning to provide the service. Form APPL02 – Stoma customisation local NHS England team notification can be submitted to the local NHS England team to notify them of the intent to carry out the Stoma Customisation Advanced Service:

NHS England local team email addresses for community pharmacy matters

3) The pharmacy contractor must be satisfactorily complying with the Terms of Service for the Essential Services.

4) The pharmacy  contractor must have an acceptable system of clinical governance.

5) The pharmacy contractor must have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in place to ensure referral of patients to the prescriber where the stoma appliance is not suitable for further customisation or where a stoma appliance has been customised and is not a proper fit for the patient.

6) The service must be provided from an ‘acceptable location’, which means:

• an area within the pharmacy that is distinct from the public area;
• is clearly designated as a private area whilst the service is being provided;
• is suitable and designated for the retention of the appropriate equipment for customisation;
• is suitable and designated for modification of the appliances; and
• that it is suitable for the volume of customisation being undertaken at any given time.

There is no requirement for the local NHS England team to accredit or otherwise approve the pharmacy before the service commences.

The contractor can carry out customisation at alternative premises provided that they are distinct from public areas of the alternative premises and that they meet the above conditions.  If premises other than the pharmacy are used, the contractor must have procedures which ensure co-operation with any reasonable inspection or review of the premises by the local NHS England team of the area where the service is provided.

The contractor must also ensure that:

1) The service is provided only by appropriately trained and qualified persons. It is anticipated that the Department of Health and Social Care guidance will clarify this requirement. Appropriate training is likely to cover knowledge of what the appliances are used for, the importance of proper fitting, hygiene etc.

2) A record of each customisation is completed which includes:

• details of advice given;
• the type of stoma appliance;
• dimensions used in respect of the modification of parts of the appliance;
• measurements of the patient (if taken);
• dimensions of any template made or modification of any existing template; and
• any referrals made to the prescriber.

Form APPL03 – Stoma customisation record can be used to record the details of any stoma customisations carried out.

3) The record must be retained for a minimum of 12 months or such longer period as NHS England reasonably requires. Records may be made and stored electronically.

4) A copy of the record must be supplied to the patient or, if requested by the patient, to the prescriber or another health care professional.

5) Three months notice must be given to the local NHS England team and the NHSBSA before the pharmacy can cease to provide the service (unless illness or other reasonable cause prevents such notice being given).

The fees for providing the SAC service are set out in Part VIE of the Drug Tariff. When this service is provided, £4.32 is paid per qualifying* Part IXC item dispensed, regardless of whether customisation was required.

*Qualifying Part IXC items for stoma customisation are one-piece closed bags (under “colostomy bags” chapter heading of current Drug Tariff), drainable bags (under “ileostomy bags” chapter heading) and bags with tap (under “urostomy bags” chapter heading), items under “two piece ostomy system” and “flanges” chapter headings, as well as Skin Protectors and Stoma Caps.

PSNC clinical service statistics dashboard
The dashboard presents data on the SAC service (as well as other Advanced services) at three levels (national, LPC and individual pharmacy) for each quarter. The dashboards are based on  the NHS Business Services Authority’s (NHSBSA) Dispensing Contractors’ data.

NHSBSA Dispensing Contractors’ data
Data on the SAC service (as well as other Advanced services) can be found by clicking on the ‘Pharmacy and appliance contractor dispensing data’ dropdown tab.

Advanced Services Declaration form (link to NHS Prescription Services website’s page with the form on)

Form APPL02 – Stoma customisation NHS England notification

Form APPL03 – Stoma customisation record

General Pharmaceutical Council – Guidance on consent

National Pharmacy Association – CPAF Stoma Appliance Customisation (please note NPA login required) 

NHS Identity Guidelines: NHS logo use by pharmacies
In January 2017 NHS England updated the guidelines on the use of the NHS Identity, including revised guidance for all primary care contractors who are commissioned under a primary care contract. Where pharmacy contractors choose to use the NHS identity, they must ensure that the revised guidance is adhered to when producing, updating or replacing designs.