To think nappies should be given out on the NHS for bedwetting

[Nymeria01]

DS1 is 14 and still wets his bed. We have had a great deal of support from the NHS (alarms, clinic and medication) all of which I am great full for. However the fact is that none of them work and he still has to wear drynites otherwise his sleeping is messed up. I have talked about this on MN before and have had some great responses informing me that you can get nappies on prescription at his age. I raised this with the GP and he said its not possible.

Why?
Buy the drynites yourself?

The Bloodman - really?? Isn't it clear that the OP's son has a medical condition. 14 years worth of nappies is a hell of a cost.

What reason did the GP give OP?

Really? When people are being denied life saving drugs because of cost?

Why do think they should be given out on the NHS?

I thought bed wetting was normal until the age of 7. After that I would have thought it would be a medical condition and the nappies should be available on prescription.

I know the elderly can get incontinence pads on the NHS after being assessed by a continence nurse.

Some areas might provide them (depends on where you live) speak to the enuresis clinic / continence nurse. Pads aren't a prescription item, catheters, sheaths etc are on prescription.

No idea about drs and prescriptions but could you get reusable/cloth absorbant pants for him? And just the thinner drynites for when he is sleeping away from home?

There are lots of things given out by the nhs which aren't life saving.

I've read several times on here posters telling others to go to the gp for nit treatment or calpol.

Reusables?

Incontinence pads are given out on the NHS to adults with incontinence issues if they meet the criteria. I see nothing wrong in the OP asking why her son would not be eligible.

have you asked at the clinic he goes to (is it run by the school nurse?). GP's sometimes don't know what is available. Having said that, presumably the alarms are intended to wake him up so that he avoids wetting, and it won't work if he is wearing a nappy. Does your DS have a disability? that may make a difference to what he is entitled to.

Yy we have bed pads for ds given to us by the continence nurse. He's 8.

Nick - doesn't make it acceptable. Nit treatment should be a parental expense.

Whilst I have every sympathy with your son, the NHS don't even give parents of children who are profoundly disabled who need nappies 24/7 enough to last them, and they are constantly having to buy them and top up, so I can't ever see them handing them out to children with your son's condition.

Which sucks, but....have you called the Eric helpline to ask them if you can get assistance with the cost? www.eric.org.uk

Flossy - its a public forum petal.

Don't call be petal. It is patronizing and makes you look like an idiot.

My ds has been referred to the continence services, with regards to having nappies on prescription. In his case this is due to disability - but maybe call your local continence service and ask about your son's eligibility?

We know nothing about the ops circumstances - whether she can afford them etc. The NHS cannot fund everything. Not 'doesn't fancy funding'. It cannot.

Aibu is a public place.

Nits, worms, calpol, Aveeno (it usually has to be that) etc etc all daily requests for children. Then there's also the NHS prescription ibuprofen request from the elderly man with a second house in France... All above board.