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Can my GP prescribe libre?

Tony337

Well-Known Member
Messages
907
Location
Milnrow UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Not being on holiday....
Hi
I manage my diabetes myself and have done for 45 years.
If I need anything I see my GP who is normally quite magnificent.

I would like a freestyle libre but he tells me he is unable to set this up and I need to see a specialist.
I don't want to do this and it seems like a waste of money and time.
I meet the criteria set out by the NHS and my GP agrees I should have one.

Yet he still says he can't.

Could any of you good people give me your opinion ?

Thank you

Tony
 
Like @becca59 in my CCG only a diabetes consultant can approve a Libre prescription.

I am slightly jealous that you have a GP who understands type 1 diabetes. I believe this is very rare which is why I have an annual diabetes review at my hospital with the dedicated diabetes team.
Luckily, I have a DSN who is available by email. I provided proof to her that I test more than 8 times a day. She took this to the consultant who approved Libre. I did not have to see the consultant (or DSN) in person.
 
I know my DN (at my docs) had to write to a consultant at my local hospital to get approval for the libre, my docs/DN couldn't prescribe it without an approval letter from the consultant - possibly CCG rules.
 
Consultant and DSN made sure I was keyed up to go on the Libre! They then wrote to my GP to inform him that I could be prescribed it. I am in Wales and they do tend to hand them out rather easily here. Seen a fair few out in the wild!
 
Here, not only does a consultant have to approve the Libre, they have to issue all the prescriptions for them too!
 
db89 said:
Here, not only does a consultant have to approve the Libre, they have to issue all the prescriptions for them too!
Click to expand...
The part about issuing prescriptions obviously varies per CCG.
Now my diabetes consultant has approved the Libre for me, they appear on my prescription and when I request them with insulin, test strips, etc, they are approved by my GP with the rest of the prescription items and they are issued by my local pharmacist with everything else.
 
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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
 
Tony337 said:
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.
Click to expand...

If the rules in your local area dictate that you must get approval from a consultant/specialist/dsn or see a consultant/specialist/dsn then unfortunately that's the rules and if you want a libre you're going to have to. Many CCGs are being very strict with who they allow to have them, personally I think jumping through a few hoops was worth it to save myself 100quid a month.
Your GP wants you to have the libre but if he can't prescribe them without a consultants approval then he just can't.
 
Hi @Tony337 I don't have anything new to add, but I hope you don't mind me asking why you aren't keen on seeing your diabetes team ?
 
Same here, my consultant had to prescribe it and send an approval letter to my GP.
 
Hello! Like everyone else said, my DSN said she can recommend the current technologies but it’s my consultant that can approve funding for it. So you’ll need to talk to your consultant.
 
Why would you want to avoid your consultant? Is your diabetes under control without a diabetes team? You cannot have access to pumps, CGMs or libre sensors without a consultant’s approval. Even if you go private to see an endo. The only option is buying libre sensors out of your pocket.
 
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Not as far as I'm aware, up in Scotland we have to attend an education session which for me was difficult to get to, show evidence that we've completed and passed the Libre Academy modules and provide a repeat prescription to prove we're on intensive insulin therapy so seeing a consultant or DSN probably as a one off is nothing
 
once consultant gives ok for libre then gp prescribes it for you but you do need to see consultant first also i had to complete a dafne course as well it is worth going as said earlier it saves you £100 per month x
 
I know one of the requirements that my CCG needed you to do was to attend an education course for the Libre - however since I've been self-funding for 2 years (and it has improved my HbA1c) they are not deeming it necessary for me. I know I also have to attend reviews to continue getting said Libre (I had to sign a form to say I'd agree to that)
 
I'm unemployed so never been able to self fund, my consultant gave me a 2 week trial back in 2017 and it was literally a lifesaver, the education session we had to book our space online so I could've had mine sooner if I'd had a way to get to the hospital but I had to wait until my mother in law was on holiday from work to get me there for the time they start, it was only about an hour and a half and we received a starter kit there and then, as long as we provided our evidence that day the dietician leading the course wrote to our GP xx
 
As with the others, I had to jump through the hoop of seeing a 'tier 3' specialist (a consultant diabetologist) and sign a contract to agree the goal of treatment. I attended an all day DAFNE as my last one had been longer than 10 years ago and this is one of the criteria, and the paperwork was completed there and then.
Yes it could be a waste of time but you may learn something or teach them how you've done it for 50 years, and walk out with your month's supply and repeat prescription.
Otherwise you could invest yourself and ration yourself to 1 sensor per fortnight to get some useful data.
 
Juicyj said:
Hi @Tony337 I don't have anything new to add, but I hope you don't mind me asking why you aren't keen on seeing your diabetes team ?
Click to expand...

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
 
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