This decision is purely based on your PCT, who negotiated with said manufacturer and contract of supply of test strips... These contracts are legal, and they do dramatically reduce the costs for the PCT...
But because this is a separate contract from the BFN central contracts, the PCT are still legally obligated to ensure the provision of any medicals, medical equipment, dressing etc listed on the BFN list..
In the case of the diabetic, if there is a reasonable reason to why the patient can't use the offered blood glucose monitoring kit, then an suitable meter/kit from the BFN list must be provided.
Reasonable reasons doesn't take preference into consideration, only thing such as;
Vision impairment, can't see the read out.
Hand dexterity, can't operate meter or problems with handling test strips.
Compatibility with other medical equipment, such as insulin pumps where own manufacturers meters communicate directly with pump, and/or software.
As so having and using different meters in there and everywhere... This is a bit fool hardy due to the allowable tolerances in meters, actually means using different meters actually distorts the data being collected to the extent it can a direct impact in control.