Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to section 3.7.1 of the NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2019-20, how much funding is being held back from overall CCG allocations to create a time-limited national budget for flash glucose monitoring devices; how much funding is being so held back from each CCG; for how many financial years the time limited budget will be held back; and if he will make a statement.

In November 2018, NHS England announced action to end the current variation in accessing flash glucose monitors. From April 2019 there will be a more consistent national approach to availability of this device. NHS England is currently working up detailed clinical criteria for who would be able to access the device. NHS England estimates that current guidelines on the use of flash glucose monitoring suggest that it could be beneficial for around 20% of those with type 1 diabetes (20% or approximately 45,000 people).

NHS England is committed to making funding available in 2019/20 and 2020/21 which will be used to reimburse clinical commissioning groups based on the number of prescriptions made for flash glucose monitor sensors. Details of the funding arrangements have not yet been confirmed.