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I was told by lifescan that my commissioning group would not supply test strips to their new meters so they wouldn't send me a meter.
Check with your pharmacy and see if the test strips are dispensed on prescription for them.
Another option is to look at the meters the ccg have inflicted on you and see if they conform to DVLA requirements.

Unfortunately, this situation is now commonplace as different areas choose only a choice of two meters and strips on prescription as a cost saving measure. It depends on your area as to which meters they have chosen ( so much for patient choice ! ) In Northumberland we do have other non standard meters, but these are supposedly for special cases such as visual problems or manual dexterity problems.

Both of the standard meters are dire. When I moved health centres they refused my Bayer contour strips and insisted that I have the Glucolab or Element. I tried both and found the readings so variable that it impacted on my bolus doses, and in my opinion they were certainly not safe to give a reading pre driving. The use of both impacted so much on my control that I challenged their use, providing log books that covered readings using Bayer, Glucolab and Element at differing trial periods, and brought these to a meeting with my diabetic team. The result was that my team wrote to my GP expressing concern and as request that my former test strips be reinstated .

As a cost saver I queried that too, as both the Glucolab and Element were huge test strip wasters as well as being impractical to use. I do think that if you have strong feelings and doubts about the prescription meters, then it is worth challenging, but back up that challenge with some data and get your consultant or DSN on your side. It's a pain I know, but worth it.

I also found that there is actually a minimal cost difference between the NHS strips and the Contour ones to the NHS, whereas the cost of trading someone in hospital for severe hypoglycaemia or DKA was obviously going to be much higher.

I understand the need for cost saving, and let's face it, they have made a considerable saving by refusing Type 2's meters and strips. Wrongly, in my opinion. I believe it would have been fairer to allow Type 2's who request a meter to have one, and give them the support in their use. Unfortunately, I have come across many Type 2's who were issued with meters and not given the explanation for their use, so they they had no clue what these random numbers even meant .

I honestly wouldn't mind if they standardised the meters across the country using ones that are reliable and user friendly, but to just go with the cheapest they can find that barely have the accuracy standards required is not saving money in the long run, and just plain nuts

Signy

Oh and cynical me thinks that there is further cost cutting to be made with all of this - for those who are sadly unsuccessful in challenging this decision, and can afford to do so, self funding is an option that would be welcomed

Signy