Hi Dave,
Test meters are not and never have been available on the NHS. What happens is that the meter manufacturers have reps who visit GP surgeries all over the country and give away samples. Some doctors/nurses are happy to give those samples to patients who they think will be able to understand and use them to good advantage.
Testing strips and lancets are a different matter. Once you have a meter, whether you were given it or you bought one yourself, the strips and lancets are available on NHS prescription. However, with increasing numbers of people being diagnosed as diabetic, the PCTs (who control how NHS money is spent in each region of the country) are trying to reduce costs by telling GPs not to prescribe test strips. Some doctors believe that patients benefit from self-testing and are prepared to prescribe, despite protestations from the PCTs. It sounds like your doctor may be one of these. Other doctors also know that a patient who can't test can never have control of their diabetes, but they are afraid of upsetting their PCTs so they refuse to either give away testers or to prescribe test strips. I just don't know how these doctors can sleep at night, knowing that their cowardice will result in the premature death of many of their patients.