Q: I have received a prescription for ‘compression hosiery class 1, below-knee, lightweight elastic net, made to measure’.  Is this allowed on prescription and if so, which products meet the description?

A: Lightweight elastic net hosiery is listed in the Drug Tariff alongside the more familiar circular knit style. There are also three products listed in the DM+d which match the generic description.

However, all the above branded products have been discontinued by the relevant manufacturers. They no longer produce any Class 1 compression product that meets the generic description.

For Class 1 compression products the only style now available is the circular knit style.

Circular knit products are ‘stretchier’ than elastic net making them easier to put on. They are also more ‘breathable’ making them more comfortable for the wearer.

As this is an appliance the prescription will have to be sent back to the prescriber and rewritten for a different product.

The following are the only ‘made to measure’ products available:

Tariff Tip written by Sue Swift, UK Drug Tariff and Information Technician