Can my GP prescribe libre?

[Juicyj]

Sorry to hear that @Tony337 I get where your coming from.

I know it's a pain but the easiest way to access it is to see your team, can someone come along with you for the appointment ?

 

[MeiChanski]

I am a well controlled type 1 of 45 years but the anxiety and addition of other auto immune problems has led me to suffering from depression.
I take pills for that.
My GP has looked after me for years and does anything I ask of him if he can.
I manage the anxiety by completing anything up to 10 blood tests a day.

The idea of talking to strangers about my condition fills me with dread and I really don't want to do it.

I hope this makes some sort of sense.

Tony

I'm sorry to hear, as much as I enjoy talking to my GP and he or she understands the struggles that I go through, they do say it is out of their expertise and that I should leave it to my endo/consultant. So again if you need anything you'll need to be referred to a consultant. Out of the years of my diabetes I only had one awful consultant but the rest are very nice and understanding. I hope you find the courage to see a consultant, because it is the only way to get funding approved for a libre on the NHS. I had to bite the bullet to go to DAFNE because my consultant said it was one of the requirements for a pump, so I did and I felt proud for beating the beast.

 

[Copernicus]

I find it strange that even after 1st April, when all CCG's were meant to dance to the same tune, there are many differences in what various CCG's demand from patients.

 

[Deleted Account]

I find it strange that even after 1st April, when all CCG's were meant to dance to the same tune, there are many differences in what various CCG's demand from patients.

Why should Libre be any different to any other medication and treatment that can interpreted and budgeted by each CCG.
For example some CCG require special approval for Fiasp and others offer it to most patients; some provide pumps with a week of training and others provide it with a couple of half day training; some provide Libre with no training others provide online training. ...

 

[xfieldok]

Interesting thread. As a T2 on steroids I got myself a freestyle libre and what an eye opener it has been.

I have used it to test a ridiculous number of times trying to plot the rate of increase and decrease in big. And thank goodness I did. I had to hit the jelly babies around 10pm as I was in hypo territory. This doesn't usually happen until around 3am.

I saw my DN yesterday who said whilst I don't qualify atm she may be able to prescribe the sensor in the future. It never occurred to me that a T2 could get one. If I find out more I will report back.

I have to say, it has been an education. Sadly, when I come off steroids, I will no longer be able to justify the cost.

 

[MDJ]

Thank you for the replies so far and if anyone can contribute anything different please do as I'm desperate to avoid seeing a consultant/specialist/dsn.

Thanks again

Tony

Hi @Tony337. Where do you live? If we knew that then we could see which CCG controls your area and then one of us would be very early able to tell you what the prescribing policy is for that CCG. It's the CCG that makes the rules so I suspect that you already have been given the answer - but we can certainly double check for you. However, most CCG's are making it a policy of only initially prescribing Libre via specials consultant terms in the CCG.

Why are you reluctant to see the Consultant?

 

[Deleted Account]

Why are you reluctant to see the Consultant?

This question has been answered earlier in this thread.

 

[Copernicus]

Why should Libre be any different to any other medication and treatment that can interpreted and budgeted by each CCG.
For example some CCG require special approval for Fiasp and others offer it to most patients; some provide pumps with a week of training and others provide it with a couple of half day training; some provide Libre with no training others provide online training. ...

Because the whole point about the ruling due to have come in on April 1st was that ALL CCG's had to follow the same rules and criteria and obviously they aren't.

 

[MeiChanski]

Because the whole point about the ruling due to have come in on April 1st was that ALL CCG's had to follow the same rules and criteria and obviously they aren't.

Some CCGs already were suffering prior to the end of postcode lottery, some lacked funding in spite of it. I don’t think they were ready for the floodgates to be opened. Only the CCGs that are coping well seem to have managed well with the demand for pumps, CGMs and sensors. My previous hospital was lacking in funding, cut off A&E services and downsized the hospital in half because they couldn’t cope. They were quite selective on who gets libre sensors and who doesn’t. They can follow the same rules but they have to pick their patients carefully on who gets what.
I think the post is going off topic - the OP was asking about if GPs had the authority to prescribe the sensors.
I hope OP finds the courage to see a consultant or be referred to one to ask about the sensors. I was prescribed them today by my consultant who looked through my 5 page spreadsheet of finger prick readings. By his words, it’ll be for the duration of 6 months until I sort out my hypos. He also prescribed fiasp as well.

 

[Copernicus]

To answer the O.P's question then, my G.P. said she can prescribe Libre, once the consultant has agreed to it being prescribed in the first place. The hard part is getting the consultant to agree to prescribe it !

 

[sbr0001]

I didn't know you needed a prescription for the libre. I just bought all of the gear online and started using it myself, and when my endo saw it she said "that's such a great option for you since you test a lot"

 

[MeiChanski]

I didn't know you needed a prescription for the libre. I just bought all of the gear online and started using it myself, and when my endo saw it she said "that's such a great option for you since you test a lot"

Well some of us have been approved by their consultants to get the libre sensor on prescription through the NHS and there is also a choice of self funding for it.

 

[Tony337]

Thanks for the replies people.
I live in Rochdale which I think comes under the Manchester CCG.

My GP has since arranged an appointment with a specialist for 4 weeks time.

How does one prove the number of tests I do and explain some of the anxieties I have to a stranger?

Thanks

Tony

 

[MeiChanski]

Thanks for the replies people.
I live in Rochdale which I think comes under the Manchester CCG.

My GP has since arranged an appointment with a specialist for 4 weeks time.

How does one prove the number of tests I do and explain some of the anxieties I have to a stranger?

Thanks

Tony

Hello,

You could read up the Manchester CCG Freestyle libre pdf criteria document online. You can first start off by documenting everything and go from there. It is something to discuss and start off your conversation. In all honesty, every diabetic should be recording their bg levels anyway.

Your recording is a solid form of evidence or you can upload it if you have usb cable and ask the hospital if there is a way to share it prior to the appointment.

I saw my consultant on Tuesday 11th and I didn’t have to say much with my spreadsheets of BG readings with ratios, food and activities.

 

[Rokaab]

How does one prove the number of tests I do

I know at my hospital clinic they say to bring my testing machine(s) and then they just plug them into their system (they use Diasend) at which point it downloads all the data - their system can connect to the libre reader as well - so they may do that or ask to see all the tests/readings you've been doing.

 

[MeiChanski]

I know at my hospital clinic they say to bring my testing machine(s) and then they just plug them into their system (they use Diasend) at which point it downloads all the data - their system can connect to the libre reader as well - so they may do that or ask to see all the tests/readings you've been doing.

I guess it depends on the hospital, when I see my consultant he doesn’t have anyone to plug my reader in. But when I see my dsn, she can plug it in and view it from her computer.

For OP, I’d say bring both. My consultant was viewing it on my phone, until he said just upload to libreview for him.

 

[Deleted Account]

How does one prove the number of tests I do and explain some of the anxieties I have to a stranger?

I upload my readings to Diasend myself.
I find this can useful as it allows me to spot trends which I cannot see from the meter and I am too lazy to plug it all into a spreadsheet.
So, to prove the number of tests, I did a download and set a screenshot of a one month summary to my DSN who discussed it with the consultant.

However, this was all possible because I attend my annual diabetes reviews at the hospital so the DSN and consultant are not strangers. They know about my lifestyle of lots of travel and exercise (I ran to my last review so they definitely know) and don't treat me like another number.

Tony, it may be tough but is your requirement for a Libre the catalyst you need to meet a consultant and start forming a relationship with them? You can take someone you trust with you to your appointment if it would help.

The Libre may just be the start - they may be able to provide additional assistance but they and you don't know until you are not strangers.