testing strips review/change from my local surgery

Hello and welcome
There has been a fair bit of discussion on here about this .
Basically, if you don't want the new meter, you don't have to have it ( as a Type 1) , in theory. BUT, and it's a big but, it depends on how flexible your particular practice is going to be. There are other meters and strips available, but what they are depends on your area. For example, in Northumberland it would be highly unlikely to continue to be prescribed strips for your meter, but if you wished, you could have strips for Contour, Bayer and a couple of others that I can't remember off the top of my head

If your present meter was given you or prescribed by a hospital diabetes clinic, you have a better chance of retaining it if the clinic DSN or consultant will write to your GP . It's worth speaking to your GP in any case first, to discuss this and say why you would be unhappy about changing .

I have to say that it irks me that the meters chosen for issue were chosen without consultation or input from the end users , or trialled before the change .

Signy

It's money money money. You need to have a good and well prepared argument to get what you want. I have the mobile and strips prescribed. My good argument is nerve damage in my hands. Standard strips are a bit fiddly for me. Good luck with this, but I fear the worst for you.