T1 Tenor

This week was big - it was big because of the announcement from NHS England that the Freestyle Libre device would be prescribed across the country according to a common policy without CCGs being able to make up their own rules NHS England Announcement .  Is it a victory?  I'm not so sure - it should never have got to this point.  I hope the policy-makers both regionally and nationally come to acknowledge the reasons behind the situation and resolve to make changes to ensure that something similar doesn't happen again.  That will be the lasting legacy created by Partha Kar, Emma Wilmot and many others seen and unseen. As mentioned elsewhere the starting point for the post-April 2019 prescribing is the  RMOC Guidance  .  This isn't the final criteria, but the assertion is that it will enable 20%-25% of T1s to get Libre on prescription - perhaps more, as suggested in this excellent blog piece by Tim Street . So, why not all T1s?  Is 25% much too ...

NEWS RELEASE Embargoed 00:01 November 14   NHS TO PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING GLUCOSE MONITORS FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES PATIENTS Tens of thousands of people with Type 1 diabetes across the country will benefit from life changing glucose monitors on the NHS. To coincide with World Diabetes Day, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, is announcing action to end the current variation patients in some parts of the country are facing to access Freestyle Libre. The wearable sensor does away with the need for inconvenient and sometimes painful finger prick blood tests by relaying glucose levels to a smart phone or e-reader. NHS England will ensure the device, which is the size of a £2 coin and sits on the arm, is available on prescription for all patients who qualify for it in line with NHS clinical guidelines. From April 2019, these patients will be able to receive it on prescription from their local GP or diabetes team helping them to better manage their blood sug...

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Libre publicity and decisions.  I have been involved with or written a number of articles across numerous media outlets.  Below are the articles that I have been involved with. Stoke Sentinel Article  - a short review with some inaccuracies based on a piece I sent to the newspaper.  It did provoke a reaction from the CCG, so did the trick! Leicester Mercury Article  - virtually verbatim what I wrote - well presented and I think did justice to our campaign.  There are signs of progress in the Leicester CCGs. BMJ Article  - comprehensive review of the situation using the data that I've put together.  The only missing element I can see is an assertion that the data that's available to me only covers primary care prescribing - I anticipate some clinicians in the North East being a little upset by that as prescribing is predominantly via hospitals in that area - but there's no data in the public domain an...