Southampton Community Trust has just done a press release on new VAT
regulations for incontinence products. A previously unannounced change in
HMG legislation limits trusts reclaiming VAT retrospectively on
contracted out services. Under new rules claims will be limited to the
current financial year, instead of retrospectively for 3 years, and
claims must be submitted within a month of the close of the year.
Locally this means no new clients will be accepted for home delivery of
incontinence aids after 21 Oct. Nationally the new regulations will cost
incontinence services around UKP 14millions, and overall the new
regulations will cost the NHS in the region of UKP 150 million for all
services. _Health Services Journal 3rd Oct_. These are times when I miss
the fun of being a fundholder.
Next time you hear a prime minister talking about pumping money into the
NHS, look at what his other hand is doing. Why cant these people be
honest about taxation, and tax us up front in a way everyone
understands, instead of these slimy distorsions no doubt followed by
scapegoating purchasers for inappropriate use of national resources?
Dr Bern Bedford
Waterside Health Centre
SO42 7TA
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