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Getting a VED on the NHS

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 12:28

My radical prostatectomy was 4 weeks ago in Stockport, England. When the catheter was removed I was discharged with a prescription form for a vacuum erection device. Do I get this kit from my local pharmacy or the Health centre/GP? Thanks for any advice.

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:48
No the VED has to be ordered via your ED clinic. At least that was how it worked in the SE of England. I think it was about a week after I got my prescription that I received the literature on the VEDs that I could choose from. It was about another week and the device of my choice arrived. Might be worth a call to your ED clinic to check what is happening.
User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 19:31

We live near Teesside and mine was ordered via my GP . The ED nurse gave me all the details, including supplier, and all I had to do was pass them on. I had a phone call from a Rep who talked me through its use, then off we went.

Good luck.

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 23:33
Hi, we are in Lancashire too, my Husband’s prescription came direct from GP and device was collected from our chosen pharmacy.

If you already have the prescription then you should just be able to go to your own pharmacy with it, they may not have one in stock but will get it in for you.

User
Posted 30 Aug 2025 at 18:04

The access to pumps varies by ICB (Integrated Care Board), depending on what rules are in place.

There's some research which showed patients are twice as likely to use the pumps successfully if they attend a pump clinic and have the pump demoed on them.

Some ICBs only allow prescriptions for patients who have attended a pump clinic. In these cases, the pump clinician provides a form which is used by the GP or hospital to prescribe a pump.

Some ICBs don't require attendance at a pump clinic, in which case a GP or hospital can prescribe it.

One ICB (Bucks, Oxon, Berks) doesn't allow any pump prescriptions, claiming they are not effective (which is clearly at odds with all the research and patient experience). I spent 3 years trying to get this fixed through the patient participation groups, but the patient participation group leader screwed up when we were expecting to present our case, going to some effort to ensure patients weren't involved, so the ICB didn't get to consider most of the patients. I can't tell you how furious I was. Sorry if you're in this area, but the NHS screwed it up for you.

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User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:48
No the VED has to be ordered via your ED clinic. At least that was how it worked in the SE of England. I think it was about a week after I got my prescription that I received the literature on the VEDs that I could choose from. It was about another week and the device of my choice arrived. Might be worth a call to your ED clinic to check what is happening.
User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 19:31

We live near Teesside and mine was ordered via my GP . The ED nurse gave me all the details, including supplier, and all I had to do was pass them on. I had a phone call from a Rep who talked me through its use, then off we went.

Good luck.

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 23:33
Hi, we are in Lancashire too, my Husband’s prescription came direct from GP and device was collected from our chosen pharmacy.

If you already have the prescription then you should just be able to go to your own pharmacy with it, they may not have one in stock but will get it in for you.

User
Posted 30 Aug 2025 at 18:04

The access to pumps varies by ICB (Integrated Care Board), depending on what rules are in place.

There's some research which showed patients are twice as likely to use the pumps successfully if they attend a pump clinic and have the pump demoed on them.

Some ICBs only allow prescriptions for patients who have attended a pump clinic. In these cases, the pump clinician provides a form which is used by the GP or hospital to prescribe a pump.

Some ICBs don't require attendance at a pump clinic, in which case a GP or hospital can prescribe it.

One ICB (Bucks, Oxon, Berks) doesn't allow any pump prescriptions, claiming they are not effective (which is clearly at odds with all the research and patient experience). I spent 3 years trying to get this fixed through the patient participation groups, but the patient participation group leader screwed up when we were expecting to present our case, going to some effort to ensure patients weren't involved, so the ICB didn't get to consider most of the patients. I can't tell you how furious I was. Sorry if you're in this area, but the NHS screwed it up for you.

 
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