In an ideal NHS world, all diabetics should get strips and a monitor, but the NHS is struggling, and as strips, quite wrongly in my opinion, are perhaps seen as an unnecessary prescription, I can see where the NHS is coming from in a way. There is only so much money to go around, and very difficult to choose between priorities.
My Health Authority will not prescribe strips for T2's so it's pointless to get angry with my nurse or doctor, I asked politely stating my case, they refused; They aren't the ones making the decisions. I do feel it's a huge missed opportunity for those who are motivated and really want to control their diabetes.
I don't work, but my husband does, so I budget to buy strips, which have been essential in my fight against this condition. I buy straight from the manufacturer, as I refuse to buy from ebay to line someone's pocket for swindling the NHS, when they are able to get strips free. However, I totally understand those who are on a really tight budget and choose to do so. It's my choice.
The problem is that the strips are entirely too expensive full-stop! If they were cheaper there would be less of a problem in supplying them, or for the patient to buy them themselves.