Libre NHS criteria

yakudueye1

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The ones who do the cost for the didn't do math as not realising the amount of money spent on the mental health of people with diabetes after poor control and ambulances that are called can help but better equipment for diabetes department
 
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NicoleC1971

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I have a Libre prescription in Epsom. Just moved to West Sussex and also got the Libre on prescription there. Just required a letter from my treating consultant for the latter.
Hi. Really interested to hear that as I live in Epsom though go to Guildford for my care. Are you treated at the John Kilner or did you go via your GP. My friend in Leatherhead (treated at Kingston) cannot get them yet. Also know of a guy in our pub group of diabetics who gets them straight from his GP in Epsom!
 

smc4761

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Lanarkshire NHS have released the criteria for people to receive the Freestyle Libre. Basically type 1 who are testing at least 8 times a day and those with no hypo awareness. They are only rolling out around 12 per month

Luckily I was a DAFNE course a few weeks ago and expressed an interest to the DSN running the course. She put me forward and yesterday I received my new Freestyle Libre.

Hopefully this will have a huge impact on my life and improve my overall control

I do agree that the bean counters only look at the headline figures on cost and forget to look at the ongoing cost that may be in background, hypos--ambulance costs, health issues, amputation blindness etc.

The difference in cost between sensors and test strips is not that huge which makes it even more frustrating
 
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ScottyD

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Hi. Really interested to hear that as I live in Epsom though go to Guildford for my care. Are you treated at the John Kilner or did you go via your GP. My friend in Leatherhead (treated at Kingston) cannot get them yet. Also know of a guy in our pub group of diabetics who gets them straight from his GP in Epsom!

I just went directly through my GP.
 

Celsus

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Why is the NHS such a mess?
What I have been reading here of testimonials over the prior 5 pages is like what happens in a banana republic.
(I love bananas as a delicious fruit, so no mal intent there, but hope you know what I mean :))
 

Keith_Simpson

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My doctor at central middlesex hospital wanted to give me the Libre as my sugars are sometimes erratic and I go low very often. She was shocked when she checked the criteria for our region.. she said it would exclude most diabetics and that she could only think of 5 people who would be eligible. You would have had been treated multiple times in a&e for severe hypos and would have to have a hba1c average of 69 and above.. there was more but i've forgotten.

We both thought it was ridiculous. It's completely unfair to give us hope by making it available on the NHS and then taking that hope away by creating such strict and impossible criteria.

My father (who's type 2 diabetic) was told by his doctor at another hospital that if he was type 1 he would have given him the Libre. This leads me to think, if I requested to move to his hospital, would I have the option of the Libre? I'm very confused by this system.

My doctor told me we should all complain to those responsible about this issue as it is totally unfair. It would be useful for us to collectively lobby against this.
On the bright side the Libre is not particularly accurate, more often consistently under reading against a finger prick test & by a significant amoount. Safer to test by finger pricking until the technology improves.
 

becca59

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@keith-Simpson. Unfortunately for you the Libre is not accurate enough. However, for many it is, and those using it effectively are getting great HBA1C results. I agree there is still room for improvement not least with issues of allergic reactions.
 

Wjohn

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My doctor at central middlesex hospital wanted to give me the Libre as my sugars are sometimes erratic and I go low very often. She was shocked when she checked the criteria for our region.. she said it would exclude most diabetics and that she could only think of 5 people who would be eligible. You would have had been treated multiple times in a&e for severe hypos and would have to have a hba1c average of 69 and above.. there was more but i've forgotten.

We both thought it was ridiculous. It's completely unfair to give us hope by making it available on the NHS and then taking that hope away by creating such strict and impossible criteria.

My father (who's type 2 diabetic) was told by his doctor at another hospital that if he was type 1 he would have given him the Libre. This leads me to think, if I requested to move to his hospital, would I have the option of the Libre? I'm very confused by this system.

My doctor told me we should all complain to those responsible about this issue as it is totally unfair. It would be useful for us to collectively lobby against this.

I think that all of these hoops that diabetics have to jump through are all delaying factors .
I have been buying the libre ,Boots gives very good deal ,but don’t believe what our Minister for Health says for medical services says about no interruption,I have just been told that updates will feature very low in UK because of Brexit ,so our minister has ,yet again been caught not telling the truth ,,
 

22nw22

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Why is the NHS such a mess?
What I have been reading here of testimonials over the prior 5 pages is like what happens in a banana republic.
(I love bananas as a delicious fruit, so no mal intent there, but hope you know what I mean :))
Blame Theresa May.
 

22nw22

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378
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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I think one of my appointments this year (March), my doctor mentioned that I would be eligible and meet the criteria, I did match the criteria. July was a bit quiet, as the time needed to be changed. I still need my accu chek expert, but they found I need a Freestyle Libre as well. It was sad that I didn't get to use them much in 2016, when I started and stopped I think, due to the fact the sensors are expensive if I wasn't funded, the sensors weren't even made fundable until this year I think, either this year or last. Now I'll get the Libre full time, since the NHS will fund mine for me, so I get them and pay nothing, unlike 2016.

Now, I don't know whether I'll get a new reader, or if we have to find one that I had been using before or what, since I am meant to be restarting the sensors from my 2nd Libre training (3rd technically). I'll probably have nothing between the 4th (First (2nd) training) and 18th. I do have to wake up early since trainings are at 9:30am for both of them.
 
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22nw22

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Messages
378
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Insulin
@keith-Simpson. Unfortunately for you the Libre is not accurate enough. However, for many it is, and those using it effectively are getting great HBA1C results. I agree there is still room for improvement not least with issues of allergic reactions.
I only reacted to that numbing cream they put on the arm for blood tests, such a shame, as they were meant to help you not feel pain. Now when I have one I don't get the cream, since I'm probably allergic to them. Since I was numbed, I didn't feel it happening, but there were weird patches on my skin. No good having the numbing cream if my skin will react to it.

Strangely I didn't notice any reactions before, but they probably think I'm allergic to the cream so they don't offer it, yet it doesn't show up on their systems, well, as a known allergy, but I am not allowed the cream. Better safe than sorry

I have no other allergies, not even to the cats in my house, or my peanut butter. I would notice if I became that way.
 

Wjohn

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Messages
49
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
My doctor at central middlesex hospital wanted to give me the Libre as my sugars are sometimes erratic and I go low very often. She was shocked when she checked the criteria for our region.. she said it would exclude most diabetics and that she could only think of 5 people who would be eligible. You would have had been treated multiple times in a&e for severe hypos and would have to have a hba1c average of 69 and above.. there was more but i've forgotten.

We both thought it was ridiculous. It's completely unfair to give us hope by making it available on the NHS and then taking that hope away by creating such strict and impossible criteria.

My father (who's type 2 diabetic) was told by his doctor at another hospital that if he was type 1 he would have given him the Libre. This leads me to think, if I requested to move to his hospital, would I have the option of the Libre? I'm very confused by this system.

My doctor told me we should all complain to those responsible about this issue as it is totally unfair. It would be useful for us to collectively lobby against this.

Dear Fatima ,
Yes the Hoops ,are what I would call political failures/excuses . I bescame a Type 1 insulin dependant diabetic 56 years ago . For me it was a wonderful great NHS support service ,but gradually, this support has reduced ,let me try and explain ,
I attended diabetic clinic ,every 6 month was thoroughly examined, spoke to and received advice from ,foot clinic ,dietician ,ophthalmic as well as diabetic specialists , now ,
My clinic visits are ,every 15 months ,foot clinic nil ,( via doctor it’s 14 months for appointment ) ,dietician make appointment again 14 month ,same for eye clinic .in no way is this a criticism of staff ,the blame lies entirely on the politics ,mainly the Conservatives policies
Your Libre problems ,Libre ,(Abbott ) is a French Co .part of the EU ,,in preparation for the Uk leaving the EU ,Abbott has downgrade the supply of Libre to the Uk ,so we are now near bottom of the list ,this government is unaware /not telling the truth ?
I find that Boots are the cheapest place to buy Libre ,
Wjowen
 

EllieM

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Your Libre problems ,Libre ,(Abbott ) is a French Co .part of the EU ,,in preparation for the Uk leaving the EU ,Abbott has downgrade the supply of Libre to the Uk ,so we are now near bottom of the list ,this government is unaware /not telling the truth ?

That's very interesting. Have you got any references/links to corroborate this statement?
 

db89

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I believe they are actually made in Oxfordshire.

I have had a replacement sensor shipped from France earlier this year - it wouldn't surprise me if they were producing them at multiple sites to meet demand.
 
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Copernicus

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Lot of dodgy political anti government "facts" in this thread. The sensors we get in this country are manufactured here, so we are not near the bottom of the supply chain. Why is it the Prime Ministers fault that it is still hard to get in on the NHS, surely that's down to local CCG boards ? Theresa May is a great supported of the Freestyle system. Is she meant to wave her magic wand and force the CCG's to make them available for anyone who wants them ? Would the poster who states that they get it from Boots because it's the cheapest way please say how much they pay. None of my local Boots will supply them unless you have a prescription. I get mine from Asda at £44 a pop. Still cheaper than from Abbott Laboratories. In a perfect world we would all get them freely on the NHS but unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world.