Recommendations for Stoma Bag Suppliers

Hi HazelHedgehog 

I think you should get a range of experiences of good and bad supply companies with your question! I’ve personally used 3 different ones in 6+ years. My current one is Respond, which in general I find very good. My only issue with them is that they continue to ignore my request NOT to send the complimentary items! 

The hospital set me up with Fittleworths and they were ok. I was “lured away” after quite aggressive marketing by Bullens. That was a mistake on my part and I would NEVER recommend them. They got orders wrong, failed to send orders at all because they forgot-there seemed to be errors every month. Not worth the stress. 

I’m happy to stay with Respond, and they are local to me in Nottinghamshire, but I’m quite prepared to change if they continue to send multiple packs of wipes and bags which I don’t require! Such a waste of money and although they are “complimentary” they have to be paid for somehow.  It’s very easy to change suppliers so none of us should be afraid to do that if we feel service is not up to scratch. 

Sarah xx

Hi HazelHedgehog,I also think Coloplast is not as good as it once was.I have a urostomy and have used Coloplast virtually the whole time since surgery almost 7 years ago.I cut out my bags but the issue I’ve had is with faulty bags that have unravelled and caused leaks.I found Coloplast staff higher up were not that friendly on the phone when I reported the fault.They kept sending replacement boxes and the bags still had the same fault.I am seriously thinking about changing suppliers as the letter they sent me more or less implied it was user error.I pointed out I had then been using Coloplast for over 6 years quite happily with no problems.Good luck if you do change suppliers.We don’t need extra problems when living with a stoma.
Jane xx

Hi Hazel

I use Respond and find them excellent.  My local supply branch is Perth and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Ordering is easy.  In my case, I get a text and email from Respond once a month, listing my prescription and I just put a tick against the items I need (and decline any complimentary items at the same time if necessary - SarahH21  can you not do this or is it a different ordering system down your way?). Prescription then goes to GP and items arrive by a confirmed date. If you need things earlier then you can phone them.  Every 3rd month I get a phone call to check that I'm happy with the products I use and to confirm that there's no issues with my stoma.

In the 5 years since I've had my stoma I've not felt the need to try anyone else.

xx

Hi Sheila

Things are a bit different for me ordering down here. The whole system is managed by Nottinghamshire Appliance Management  Services and I need to phone them when I need to order supplies. When this system was implemented I thought it was another unnecessary and cumbersome step, but I’ve changed my view with time.

When I phone, the prescription coordinator takes a note of everything and passes the prescription to one of their specialist stoma nurses to sign off.  They check on each call that all is well with my stomas and I am happy with my products. This prescription then goes to Respond and they will let Respond know if I need things especially quickly by next day delivery for example when I’m going on holiday. 

The stoma nurses can make changes to my order if I want to request more of a particular item for example, and they offer me an annual stoma review and also the opportunity to have a chat with them at any time about any stoma issues. The system actually works very well! 

I have spoken to NAMS and Respond multiple times regarding the complimentary items and the issue is with Respond, unfortunately. However I am now part of a local stoma group where we have monthly meetings with a “swap shop” where those of us with excess items can donate them to others who don’t get enough, so that’s a good solution for me going forward. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah,I might see if I can change to Respond.I always got my supplies via Amcare and despite not having the best reputation I found the office staff were lovely.The ladies helped me so much during recovery in the pandemic.Then they stopped supplying the product I use so I had to deal with Coloplast directtly.It’s interesting how our experiences of stoma products and ordering varies.Love Jane xx

It’s a great topic for discussion, Jane-just to see how others are getting on with the different companies.

The staff at Respond (when I used to do my ordering direct with them) are lovely and very helpful. I’ve not had any experience of Amcare, so I’ve not heard about their reputation. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah & Jane (winkers60 ). Yes, it's definitely interesting to see the differences not only between suppliers, but between different ordering systems as well. I've only ever experienced Respond. Mind you, my prescription very simple. It's just uncut pouches plus occasional complimentary stuff as needed. I think I can speak to their stoma nurse as well but haven't needed to (says she with her fingers crossed ). It's good that we have choices though as different things will be more, or less, important to different folks.

Sheila xx

Absolutely-and even though my gp surgery changed to this system of using NAMS, I can still change my actual supplier if I want to. They ask on every call if my prescription should still go to Respond.

With 2 stomas I have quite a large prescription, but I know Jane is very restricted on what she’s allowed by her health centre from previous discussions.

Sarah xx

Mine works the opposite way - Respond take the order then ask if its the same GP surgery to send it to.

I have to pay for adhesive remover. I used to be able to order this over the phone with Respond, pay, and just ask them to ship along with my NHS order, but not allowed to do that now. It needs to be done separately which is a pity.

Sheila xx

Well remembered Sarah my dr’s don’t always agree to the regular items but I’m hoping now I’m changing practices the new surgery will be more understanding.Coloplast staff were telling me this is a regular complaint from their users and how wrong it was.I can understand that the health centres have a budget but it’s not as if stoma bags are not essential.xx