Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on people with diabetes of the slow-down in production and shipping of Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring sensors from Abbott; and if he will make statement.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is aware of current supply issues with the Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring sensors and it is maintaining regular contact with the supplier Abbott to re-establish the reliable supply of this product.
This is a temporary disruption caused by increases in demand and we have already seen steady progress to improve the situation over the recent weeks.
The information provided refers to the National Health Service in England only.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) supply and (b) availability of glucose monitoring systems for the treatment of diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Recent technological advances and introduction of glucose monitoring systems to the market has brought significant benefits to patients and the way they can live their lives.
As global demand for these systems increases we recognise that it is likely to see temporary constraints on supply emerge from time to time. However, the Department maintains close engagement with industry to minimise the impact of these situations and be assured in any such situations suitable alternative products are available.
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning diabetes services for their local populations. This includes technologies such as glucose monitoring devices. CCGs are best placed as clinically led organisations that have both the local knowledge and accountability to make commissioning decisions in the best interests of their patients.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to extend the issuing of continuous glucose monitoring systems to people who have diabetes.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning diabetes services, and the technologies that can be offered by these services which includes continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, for their local populations. CCGs are best placed to do this as they are clinically led organisations that have both the local knowledge and accountability to make commissioning decisions in the best interests of their patients.
The National Health Service has committed through the Long Term Plan that from April 2020, pregnant women with type 1 diabetes will be offered CGM devices, helping to improve neonatal outcomes. NHS England will support the costs of CGM devices for these patients and roll out will commence shortly.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to widen the NHS England criteria under which diabetes patients can receive the Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring device on prescription to include type 2 diabetics.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning diabetes services for their local populations. They are also expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines into consideration when making their decisions. NICE currently recommends not routinely offering self-monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes unless the person:
- is on insulin;
- or there is evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes;
- or the person is on medication that may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery;
- or the person is pregnant or is planning to become pregnant.
The evidence base for the benefits and cost-effectiveness of flash glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes is still developing, and NICE will continue to monitor the evidence and relevant research.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many flash glucose monitors and sensors were prescribed from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019 in each CCG area.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information is not available in the format requested.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has any plans to reintroduce blood glucose test strips on prescription for Type 2 diabetics.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
Blood glucose test strips are available on prescription for people with type 2 diabetes. However, it is for clinical commissioning groups to make decisions on the commissioning of health services that best meet the needs of their local population, taking into account local priorities and needs.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on the management of type 2 Diabetes in adults. This guideline states:
“1.6.13 Do not routinely offer self-monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes unless:
More information is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/1-Recommendations#blood-glucose-management-2
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure all Type 2 diabetics have access to a glucose monitoring blood test every three months as standard.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning diabetes services for their local populations. They are also expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines into consideration when making their decisions.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan and NHS Planning Guidance commitments for 2019-20, what progress his Department has made on ensuring that patients with Type 1 diabetes benefit from life-changing flash glucose monitors in line with clinical guidelines; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
Glucose monitoring technology, such as flash glucose monitors like Freestyle Libre will continue to be available to those meeting the relevant clinical criteria.
The NHS Long Term Plan announced that the National Health Service will ensure that, in line with clinical guidelines, eligible patients with type 1 diabetes benefit from life changing flash glucose monitors from April 2019, ending the variation patients in some parts of the country are facing.
NHS England has published detailed criteria and supporting guidance at the following link:
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be reimbursed for the cost of flash glucose monitoring sensors for those who meet these criteria, which could amount to up to 20% of their type 1 diabetes populations. CCGs can also locally choose to fund flash glucose monitoring for other patients with diabetes. The guidance advises that as part of their annual review process, patients with diabetes should be assessed for suitability for flash glucose monitoring. This process can also form part of a review for a different purpose, if that occurs earlier. This will promote a systematic approach to increasing take up.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase access to the Freestyle Libre monitoring device for diabetes patients.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
Glucose monitoring technology, such as flash glucose monitors like Freestyle Libre will continue to be available to those meeting the relevant clinical criteria.
The NHS Long Term Plan announced that the National Health Service will ensure that, in line with clinical guidelines, eligible patients with type 1 diabetes benefit from life changing flash glucose monitors from April 2019, ending the variation patients in some parts of the country are facing.
NHS England has published detailed criteria and supporting guidance at the following link:
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGS) will be reimbursed for the cost of flash glucose monitoring sensors for those who meet these criteria, which could amount to up to 20% of their type 1 diabetes populations. CCGs can also locally choose to fund flash glucose monitoring for other patients with diabetes. The guidance advises that as part of their annual review process, patients with diabetes should be assessed for suitability for flash glucose monitoring. This process can also form part of a review for a different purpose, if that occurs earlier. This will promote a systematic approach to increasing take up.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure equitable access to the Freestyle Libre monitoring device for diabetes patients on the NHS.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
Glucose monitoring technology, such as flash glucose monitors like Freestyle Libre will continue to be available to those meeting the relevant clinical criteria.
The NHS Long Term Plan announced that the National Health Service will ensure that, in line with clinical guidelines, eligible patients with type 1 diabetes benefit from life changing flash glucose monitors from April 2019, ending the variation patients in some parts of the country are facing.
NHS England has published detailed criteria and supporting guidance at the following link:
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGS) will be reimbursed for the cost of flash glucose monitoring sensors for those who meet these criteria, which could amount to up to 20% of their type 1 diabetes populations. CCGs can also locally choose to fund flash glucose monitoring for other patients with diabetes. The guidance advises that as part of their annual review process, patients with diabetes should be assessed for suitability for flash glucose monitoring. This process can also form part of a review for a different purpose, if that occurs earlier. This will promote a systematic approach to increasing take up.