Accessing Essential Support: The NHS Prescription Route
For many people living with a stoma in the UK, accessing high-quality ostomy support garments is essential for comfort, confidence, and maintaining an active lifestyle. The great news is that the NHS typically covers the cost of these items, meaning you can often receive supportive underwear and stoma belts free of charge.
Understanding the process is key to ensuring you get the support you need quickly and efficiently.
How to Get Your Ostomy Support Prescription
The journey to receiving your NHS-prescribed support wear is simple and guided by healthcare professionals every step of the way.
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Consultation & Stoma Care Nurse Referral
Your primary resource is your specialist healthcare professional, usually your Stoma Care Nurse (SCN) or GP. During routine reviews or post-operative checkups, your nurse will evaluate your stoma location, abdominal wall, and lifestyle needs. If they determine that you would benefit from support wear, they will refer you directly to a specialist manufacturer like CUI Wear. -
Personalised Fitting & Assessment (Home Visit or Remote)
Once we at CUI Wear receive the referral from your Stoma Care Nurse, our team reaches out to arrange a dedicated consultation tailored to your preference.
In-Person Home Visit: A qualified support specialist visits you at home for a confidential, face-to-face fitting and measurement.
Remote Consultation: A virtual or phone appointment to guide you through accurate self-measurement and garment selection. During this assessment, we evaluate your posture, torso dimensions, and stoma site to select the exact garment type, size, and compression tier required for your daily needs. -
Fulfilling Your Prescription
Once your fitting is complete and product details (including exact Drug Tariff ordering codes) are finalised, there are three flexible ways your prescription is processed:
Handled Directly by CUI Wear: We can process the prescription request on your behalf by contacting your GP surgery directly for approval, removing all paperwork hassle for you.
Self-Ordering via Prescription Services: You can submit your order directly through prescription-approved services online or over the phone using your product codes.
Via Your Dispensing Appliance Contractor (DAC): You can pass the recommendation directly to your regular stoma dispensing company (DAC), who will request the prescription from your GP and deliver your support wear alongside your monthly stoma supplies.
CUI Wear and the NHS: What You Need to Know
CUI Wear has proudly worked alongside the NHS for over 15 years, collaborating directly with Stoma Care Nurses and Healthcare Professionals to develop garments that truly meet ostomates' clinical and lifestyle needs.
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Drug Tariff Listed: Our core product lines, including our popular anti-roll hernia support belts and support underwear, are officially listed on the NHS Drug Tariff.
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Free at the Point of Care: For eligible patients, your prescribed garments are fully covered by the NHS.
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Requesting CUI Wear by Name: When your prescription is issued, you can specifically request CUI Wear garments by name and product code to ensure you receive specialised, high-quality support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get stoma support garments on the NHS?
The short answer is yes. For many people living with a stoma in the UK, accessing high-quality ostomy support wear is essential for comfort, confidence, hernia prevention, and maintaining an active lifestyle.
Do all ostomy patients qualify for free support wear?
Yes, if you live in the UK and have a stoma, you are generally entitled to all medically necessary appliances and support items on prescription, though dispensing is subject to GP discretion and local commissioning guidelines.
How many items can I order at one time?
This varies depending on your clinical needs and your GP's discretion, but it is common for SCNs to prescribe multiple garments for regular washing and rotation.
Can I buy the products if I'm not eligible for a prescription?
Absolutely. All CUI Wear products can be purchased directly through our website. Don't forget to check our VAT Exemption page for potential savings.
What if my GP has never heard of CUI Wear?
This is rare, but if it happens, politely ask them to consult the Drug Tariff. CUI Wear is an approved supplier, and your SCN can assist with providing the correct codes.
Access Your Free Support Garments With NHS Today
Don't let uncertainty prevent you from receiving essential core protection and support. Speak to your Stoma Care Nurse at your next review, and ask for CUI Wear by name to discuss referral pathways and schedule your fitting appointment.
