Freestyle Libre available on NHS

[mum2westiesGill]

It's finally here! The Freestyle Libre will be available on NHS from November this year 🙂 Criteria hasn't been announced yet

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4878596/amp/Hi-tech-patch-end-needle-pain-diabetics.html

 

[Ljc]

That is good to hear, though I strongly suspect the criteria will strict.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

It sounds great, but when you read further the article states that not all areas will be offering it, it will be up to CCG's whether they do, or more likely don't .....

 

[Diabetes UK]

Yes it is fantastic news! We have been campaigning hard for this outcome and are delighted for this announcement today. It will still be down to CCG's (Clinincal Commissioning Groups) in England & Wales to decide if it is available in your area, so there is still more campaigning to do. A great move in the right direction though, so please do help us to continue the fight. 🙂

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/campaigning/flash-glucose-monitoring

 

[Northerner]

Yes it is fantastic news! We have been campaigning hard for this outcome and are delighted for this announcement today. It will still be down to CCG's (Clinincal Commissioning Groups) in England & Wales to decide if it is available in your area, so there is still more campaigning to do. A great move in the right direction though, so please do help us to continue the fight. 🙂

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/campaigning/flash-glucose-monitoring

haha! I was just about to post the same thing! 🙂

This is great news, hopefully we will be able to persuade our doctors and nurses to prescribe them to us 🙂 I have found that, once I have confidence in the accuracy of a sensor, I hardly ever fingerprick, so that represents a huge saving on strips to put against the cost of sensors 🙂

 

[Northerner]

I've just read that the sensors will cost the NHS £35 each, so only slightly more expensive than a box of strips a week 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Considering as my CCG turned round and said no CGM as no one else has one and if we give you one it's not fair on everyone else.
I've more chance of seeing a purple spotted pig flying overhead than having a Libre.

 

[KathC]

I've just read that the sensors will cost the NHS £35 each, so only slightly more expensive than a box of strips a week 🙂

And the sensors last 2 weeks 🙂

 

[eggyg]

Although I would love to be considered for this as a "weird" diabetic, I really hope everyone under 16 would automatically be offered this opportunity and I would willingly give up my chance if this wasn't the case. I am lucky than I can afford to fund this myself at the moment albeit not on a permanent basis as £100 a month does eat into the budget. Well done to everyone involved in getting it this far.

 

[eggyg]

haha! I was just about to post the same thing! 🙂

This is great news, hopefully we will be able to persuade our doctors and nurses to prescribe them to us 🙂 I have found that, once I have confidence in the accuracy of a sensor, I hardly ever fingerprick, so that represents a huge saving on strips to put against the cost of sensors 🙂

haha! I was just about to post the same thing! 🙂

This is great news, hopefully we will be able to persuade our doctors and nurses to prescribe them to us 🙂 I have found that, once I have confidence in the accuracy of a sensor, I hardly ever fingerprick, so that represents a huge saving on strips to put against the cost of sensors 🙂

As a driver I still have to legally "prick" every time I get in a car, it would be good if the DVLA recognised it. Surely it is no different to someone doing a finger prick test with dirty fingers and getting a false reading. Food for thought?

 

[Ally beetle]

I have just had a conversation with my consultant at my annual diabetic review and he states the Dorset CCG have not approved it and he doesn't think there will be funding for it.

I am a little annoyed by this that central government as I understand it have agreed for it to be on the NHS but no funding is being made available.

Like so many things the government make promises that the NHS cannot fund.

 

[Northerner]

I have just had a conversation with my consultant at my annual diabetic review and he states the Dorset CCG have not approved it and he doesn't think there will be funding for it.

I am a little annoyed by this that central government as I understand it have agreed for it to be on the NHS but no funding is being made available.

Like so many things the government make promises that the NHS cannot fund.

I'd like to hear the grounds on which they are refusing to fund it, particularly if it's a blanket refusal even for those who would benefit most

 

[HOBIE]

I climbed Scar-Fell Pike with perfect BG with the use of a Libre on. It was a really wet day & could have not done BG with normal blood sticks. A very good test for the system 😎

 

[SB2015]

I saw my Consultant yesterday. He was in the process of producing criteria for the allocation of Libre. He thinks that eventually it will be available to al, but initially it will be limited. I shall wait and see what happens, but quite hopeful.

 

[Ally beetle]

I wish I could have a libra as it would help a great deal when I am at work as checking my blood sugars is difficult sometimes

 

[Diabetes UK]

As a driver I still have to legally "prick" every time I get in a car, it would be good if the DVLA recognised it. Surely it is no different to someone doing a finger prick test with dirty fingers and getting a false reading. Food for thought?

Slightly late response here but thought I would clarify!
Yes you do still have to finger prick test for driving as the DVLA legislation says that you have to test your blood glucose before driving. Flash measures interstitial fluid rather than the blood directly as in CGM and so the DVLA does not recognise the Flash monitoring results as an acceptable method of testing. Also interstitial fluid blood glucose levels have a lag time compared to glucose levels taken from the blood.

We are currently in discussions with the DVLA about changing these rules 🙄

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I spoke to my DSN about this and she thinks that, initially at least, the criteria for funding from my CCG (and neighbouring County) will be almost impossible to reach. However, she suggested that when it's been available for a while and is cheaper it may be more readily available. I'm still going to try and get one though through my GP (who is much more amenable than the hospital, who just say no to everything )

 

[Diabetes UK]

Yes @Lucy Honeychurch - availability may be a little slow at first but we hope that it will begin to become more and more widely available. Through continuing to raise awareness and put the pressure on, we hope hope to grow availability. Sounds like a good idea to try through your GP 🙂

 

[Northerner]

My GP will get a demonstration and hard sell when I see her next week 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

I climbed Scar-Fell Pike with perfect BG with the use of a Libre on. It was a really wet day & could have not done BG with normal blood sticks. A very good test for the system 😎

That was in 50th year of T1. Pinkies are sore