Freestyle Libre - New Cost-Neutral UK Government petition

[Bruce Stephens]

I don't know, but my suspicion is that when the NHS negotiate a price for medications and treatments etc. it is on the understanding that these will be prescription-only items so the companies do not forfeit potential profits from individuals who self-fund.

In this particular case some pharmacies were (maybe some still are) selling at £35. That presumably means they were selling at a loss but I thought the loss was just their costs and profit (i.e., £35 is the wholesale price). And the NHS deal was that price but also with some test strips thrown in (and presumably the Reader too). (As part of the 6-month trial the prescription I got was for 3 sensors and 50 test strips, so maybe that's the deal: 50 free test strips with 3 sensors?)

Regardless, I'll bet Abbott wouldn't mind at all if the NHS decided to offer the sensors to any T1 who wanted them (or T2, for that matter).

(If that's the case maybe one can argue that the NHS's negotiating wasn't that effective.)

 

[grovesy]

I have not read of anyone still buying at £35 for while, people were reporting prices had gone up.

 

[SB2015]

Being able to check every hour or two hours is super helpful. That regularly and convenience will not happen with finger pricking. And checking more regularly and being able to see the chart of what’s happened and what is happening (going up, down, same etc) ensures users can really improve their HbAic

A better measure of our control is Time in Range, since a ‘good HbA1c could be achieved with yo-yo profile from hypo to hyper as they would average out to a ‘nice number’. Minimal tests using BG wood tell nothing of the time in between. I know my HbA1c dropped by 10 once I started using the information from the Libre. @Robin your GP is basing his views on old technology but as others have said the NICE guidelines have moved on from that. I am also aware that some have had it prescribed by GP without referral to hospital team

Definitely worth asking.

 

[davidegertron]

A favour. If any T1's have any luck getting the Libre sensors on the NHS on the grounds that you test 8+ times a day and can show improvements in HbA1c, can you post about it here, please. My Petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/269206 is not going anywhere so I would actually like to see who, if anyone is getting these sensors FOC (exc. the areas Mike already covered above) I remain convinced that most people remain forced to self fund (when they can afford to).

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’ve been given approval for Libre on prescription (because of BG testing frequency) at my most recent clinic appointment, but I’ve still got a few Enlite sensors in stock so I’ve not chased it up!

 

[Northerner]

A favour. If any T1's have any luck getting the Libre sensors on the NHS on the grounds that you test 8+ times a day and can show improvements in HbA1c, can you post about it here, please. My Petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/269206 is not going anywhere so I would actually like to see who, if anyone is getting these sensors FOC (exc. the areas Mike already covered above) I remain convinced that most people remain forced to self fund (when they can afford to).

Yes, I got them on prescription due to 8+ tests a day, and nothing to do with HbA1c as that has always been very good for me since diagnosis - I doubt they'd actually want me to 'improve' that (usually in the mid 30s mmol/mol)