A few days ago the DoH issued a statement that suggested the CEDAB (the Community Equipment Dispenser Accrediation Body) was being scrapped after less than a year in operation. The body is run jointly by NAEP and the BHTA.

The DoH statement read…“A local approach to accreditation means that the CEDAB national accreditation body and infrastructure, tested over the past year, is no longer appropriate.”

However, it seems that CEDAB isn't just going to lie down and play dead and it has issued a robust reply from the Board of the organisation. This is what it says….

The CED Accreditation Scheme Board has responded to the recent release from the DH TCES team with surprise.

Jean Hutfield, Chair of the Board, told THIIS; “We are somewhat bemused by the notion that the DH TCES team believed that they had, or needed, to endorse the CEDA Scheme. It is our view that we are an independent body set up to facilitate a national standard of prescription fulfilment for Local Authorities/PCTs, to safeguard users of the service, and self-funders, by creating a high level of training and ethics in equipment provision via retailers – irrespective of their geographical location.”

Jean goes on to indicate that the scheme most definitely has a role to play in the future and that it is up to others to make a decision whether to use its services. “It is also our view that the Local Authority Social Services teams and PCTs can make their own decisions with regards to registration as they are autonomous bodies, not managed centrally by the TCES team. It is our job to create a compelling case for the local teams to use a national body, not tell them what to do.”

As mentioned in the bulletin last week, Jean also suggests that CEDA will reduce the amount spent on policing retailers taking part in the retail model. “CEDA provides a centralised nationalregistration for retailers at a low cost, removing the need for local Public Sector teams to have to set up and run their own scheme, thus avoiding repeated local cost. CEDA has independently validated training and training providers for retailers to use, creating consistent National Standards for retailers, and avoiding a postcode lottery. This gives national retailers easier access to, and consistent approach, across their business whilst providing a level playing field and cost base for local independent retailers.”

And it seems that the organisation has reacted by setting out new cost structures too as Jean explained. “We have had a very successful first year and with the high start up costs behind us, we have afully operational scheme with an Accreditation and Guidance manual. I am pleased to announce that this means we can reduce the cost of registration renewal in year 2 to £150 + VAT for a retailer, starting 1st October, and renewal for individual dispensers at £50 + VAT. In addition new retailers joining now will be registered for the whole period until 30th September 2010. We look forward to supporting new areas moving to the TCES scheme or running their own models for many years to come.”

For more information on the organisation, go HERE