Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement in November 2018 that they intend to centrally fund Freestyle Libre glucose flash monitors, what plans they have to widen access to other diabetes technologies.

A range of diabetes technologies and methods of glucose monitoring, such as continuous glucose monitoring or blood glucose test strips, will continue to be available to those meeting the relevant clinical criteria.

One of the long standing and fundamental principles of the National Health Service is that the best way to address local challenges is through clinically-led decision-making, as close to patients as possible.

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.