NHS Vasectomy Service update

We understand that we have a large number of patients who are awaiting a vasectomy procedure with us and that you may have been waiting longer than either you or we would like.

The truth of the matter is that we have been in discussion with our commissioners, Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the past 2 years as the payment we receive for this service has not changed for 12 years. This means that every procedure we carry out actually costs more than we are paid.

In addition to this, the ICB continues to pay practices in a different area a rate that is 60% higher than we are paid.

The ICB have promised repeatedly to look at this situation, but nothing has changed. We have now written to our MP on this subject and until it is resolved we will be doing a very limited number of procedures, which means that our patients are having to wait even longer.

We have also stopped taking new NHS referrals until the ICB has resolved the situation.

You may wish to express your disappointment to our commissioners, which you can do via this email lscicb-fw.patientexperience@nhs.net or call 0300 373 3550.

Best regards

Mike Wain
Practice Manager