The Executive has no plans to reduce the number of stoma care nurse positions in Scotland after April 2006. Funding and employment and working practices of all nurse posts is a matter for the employing or contracting NHS board.All funding currently provided centrally for the provision of stoma appliances, from which appliance contractors either provide sponsorship moneys or employ directly nurses working in hospitals or the community will transfer directly to NHS boards with effect from 1 April 2006.NHS boards are now reviewing the position of nurses not currently employed by them but who provide stoma care in hospitals or the community, to ensure that those affected nurses who wish to do so can continue their employment within the NHS.These new more equitable funding arrangements allow NHS boards the financial flexibility to design future stoma services which will better meet the needs of patients and be more transparent and accountable.