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Got my NHS prescription for Libre!

I self funded these sensors and readers for myself and my teenage daughter (both type 1 ) but the cost was too much, but the benefit or freedom I regained using this system was fantastic, my mental Health greatly improved and so did my all round health. I am currently going through a 150 contour next test strips every month or two, my hands are shredded, problems getting blood, mistakes, troubles holding the kit, is my bg dropping or going up ? I checked my two different bg meters via finger pricking and I found there to be a 30 % difference in readings, after some 44 years of disjointed nhs services to get so close to normality is exciting, frustrating, hopefully all of these things but I can see a great struggle ahead trying to get what I consider to be really my first major health boost concerning my diabetes.
 
 
You are so lucky. I live in Nottinghamshire and our ccg according to my consultant had said a definitive NO to the libre without even a debate.
So even if the gp agreed I assume it would still get rejected.
 
hodders said:
You are so lucky. I live in Nottinghamshire and our ccg according to my consultant had said a definitive NO to the libre without even a debate.
So even if the gp agreed I assume it would still get rejected.
Click to expand...

Don't assume @hodders. Go to your local pharmacies and see if anyone else is getting them on prescription. Then you can go to our GP with that knowledge. I don't think my local CCG has approved yet (and probably won't). I've found the minutes from the last meeting and the Libre wasn't discussed.

When I told my doctor the Libre was now on the NHS, he just googled it to see if it was true! He didn't even mention about it has to be approved etc..
 
 

Agree totally, Bud. I've no idea what the politicians/funders will do with this, but there's a sense that it's moving in the right direction.

When people turn up for their yearly or six monthly check up, the doc has got a simple a1c number, we've got an agp breaking it down, and daily prints for the detail. Docs are going to want that - last consult I had, we spent 25 mins pouring over it, instead of the usual 10 mins.

They want to see this stuff, and that desire will filter down to influence the funders.

I've got a consultation coming up in December - I'm highly tempted to say, look, mate, I've got all this information which lets me make much better decisions than your pissy little a1c does, but I paid for it, it's mine, so you can go hang, maybe show it to you when nhs starts paying for it.

My DSN is T1 too. She says it like she sees it. She's not slow in coming forward, and I reckon people like her just chipping away in the background will lead to changes.

We're getting there, but it'll take time.
 
I always found while driving on the motorway and having to do a finger pricking test meant I had to put down my mobile phone and look up, only joking. Free the Libre !
 
Scott let’s take to the streets, everybody else is, the peasants are revolting, hehe, I when using the sensors printed out my reports generated by the libre software ( I was chuffed I got my pc to speak to my printer ) the specialist doctor didn’t even look at it just dismissed it by saying it “ means nothing to me “ when I first asked him about the freestyle system and I told him Abbott had contacted me he was very put out, he exhibited the god syndrome, this country can give millions in aid but we are denied a much better quality of life for pennies. Political pressure?
 
Ah the good auld days, urine testing, smelly foul stuff, I was only ever issued a packet of Remington rand steel needles packets of 6 or 8 but had to use them continually but they blunted and tore through the muscles now my lags are lumpy, sore, and misshaped ( or is that just me ?) I’ve encountered the attitude many times that when I asked for adequate supplies in my prescriptions the people were paying for it from they’re own pockets. As a child some 46 years ago the nhs was staffed by bullies.
 

Perhaps we could charge the consultants £10 per weekly sheet and £15 per AGP - oh that's a convenient total..........!

Although there are some glaringly obvious gotchas with this 'attitude'
 
There’s a article in this evenings (online) edition of Glasgow’s Evening Times. This reluctance or refusal to prescribe fs libre is a national political scandal, why political? Well our politicians are busy giving aid to countries, charities, etc and a lot of funds leave this country and so possibly our nhs. There should never be a situation where a postcode lottery exists , we must make our voice heard as everybody else has a loud speaker or is it diabetes is just not sexy enough ?
 
If we outlaw "postcode lotteries" will we never get any process, as it will stop hospitals, CCGs and GPs from experimenting and seeing what works well..... You will also never be able to have any integration with social care, as councils are defined by postcodes, along with being unable to have services that make sense for the area.

Are you really saying that you wish remote part of the UK and London to be forced to organise everything in the same way?
 

What I am saying is this, in Glasgow like anywhere else there are wealthy areas and areas of great deprivation but we all pay the same taxes ( some more than others) so we should all get fair and equal access to the nhs services but we don’t in some postcodes in Glasgow the life expectancy is 50 years while in wealthy areas it’s 80’s, I don’t agree with this anomaly, wealthy postcodes have many advantages but to get even more in this democracy is unfair, unjust and just plain wrong. I think this discrimination on a national level is also wrong and on the reasons given above but if you think of London the cost of housing is very high and the social security system pays for this but in Glasgow you don’t get the same amounts, why, again unfair and discrimination.
 
Hello all Surrey checking back in with bad news;

I posted earlier to say that my GP had agreed to a prescription as the local clinical commissioning group had OK'd things and that then I was having trouble getting hold of a physical prescription....

Turns out the GP was jumping the gun and that it hadn't actually been approved in my area so no NHS scripts for me :-(

GP then went on to say that once it does become available (?!?) I would need to get the first prescription from the hospital (who manage my diabetes) anyway!

Now, as the hospital is in a different geographical area to my GP Surgery, getting hold of NHS sensors now seems more unlikely than ever.

Only small plus here is that my pharmacy did get some sensors in and can match the Abbot website prices if I buy from them.

Hopefully the barriers will get broken eventually if enough folk keep pushing and asking questions; It's a shambles so far, typical give with one hand while taking away with the other.
 

My GP said he couldn't prescribe it until it appears on the list of 'allowed' items. Did your GP write you a private prescription?
 
@Eldorado No it was an NHS prescription. All he did was google that it was available on the NHS and said he would write out a handwritten script on the following Monday. Interestingly, when I collected it, I noticed it had been written out and signed by another doctor so it looks like I have two doctors in my practice willing to prescribe it.
 
I’m waiting to see if they will fund me on the nhs I’ve got the libre atm and begrudge paying for something that helps me so much with my control as hasn’t been the best in the past which has lead to lifelong problems now I am fed on a pej feed
 

Same here - GP in Surrey, but not spoken to them. Diabetes team at hospital in different location and doctor outright refused because "you test too often". Considering challenging that statement, and if it doesn't work changing hospitals. Both location's CCGs have signed up to funding. Out of interest, how did you get on?

Has anyone else have their diabetes team refuse a prescription even though you meet the criteria?
 
I initially got my first 2 lots on prescription but then Leeds CCG no no go and stopped it. Now I’ve been told it can be done if the hospital authorities personal funding. Will find out next week. Hope it’s good news
 
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