Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations his Department has made to the pharmaceutical company Abbott on the availability of FreeStyle Libre being issued to people with Type 1 diabetes from April 2019.
On 14 November 2018, it was announced that flash glucose monitors will be available on prescription for every patient who qualifies for them, in line with National Health Service clinical guidelines.
The Department has not made any representations to Abbott since.
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning diabetes services. In doing so, CCGs need to ensure that the services they provide are fit for purpose, reflect the needs of the local population, are based on the available evidence, and take into account national guidelines. This should include consideration of access to diabetes technologies such as FreeStyle Libre.