Flash Glucose Monitoring (Flash GM) is a new technology that enables people with diabetes to check their glucose levels without the need to prick their fingers and draw blood. You may be aware that a Flash GM device, the FreeStyle Libre, was included on the drug tariff on 1st November 2017.

Flash GM has a number of benefits:

• It has been shown to better support someone’s self-management of their condition as it provides a greater density of data and the ability to follow trends in glucose levels, which are not available from less frequent blood glucose testing.
• It can enable fine tuning of insulin and so reduces hypoglycaemia and increases time in target range of glucose levels (improved HbA1c).
• People using the device have been shown to test glucose levels more frequently as it is easier, quicker and less painful than routine finger prick glucose monitoring.
• Being able to check glucose levels frequently during the day is key to limiting hypoglycaemia and managing blood glucose.

There are a number of areas in the country who have now agreed policies to provide access – and there are also sources of guidance about this:

• NHS England Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee (North) position statement on the use of Flash (https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Flash-Glucose-monitoring-System-RMOC-Statement-final.pdf).
• The Type 1 collaborative, a group of clinical specialists working in diabetes(https://abcd.care/getting-freestyle-libre-your-formulary)
• Diabetes UK’s Consensus Guideline for Flash Glucose Monitoring (https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2017-09/1190_Flash%20glucose%20monitoring%20guideline_SB_V9%5B4%5D.pdf)

I understand that there are significant budgetary pressures in the NHS. The Freestyle device is cost effective for people with diabetes who are treated with insulin and testing frequently.   It has also been firmly established that tight glycaemic control in people with diabetes is associated with a significant reduction in serious and costly long-term diabetes related complications. Therefore focusing spend on areas like Flash GM, which gives people the tools to manage their diabetes more effectively must therefore be an absolute priority.

Please can you let me know:

• If you have agreed a policy
• What the policy is in terms of access and where this can be found publically
• If you have not agreed a policy, when you plan to do so.

I hope that you too see the benefit in Flash GM technology and will ensure that local policies are developed which support access to those people with diabetes who can benefit from using it.  

Request 1

Please let me know:

If you have agreed a policy

Response 1

No

However, NHS Rotherham CCG is currently working with local diabetes health care professionals in reviewing the blood glucose monitoring guidelines.

Request 2

What the policy is in terms of access and where this can be found publically

Response 2

Not applicable

Request 3

If you have not agreed a policy, when you plan to do so.

Response 3

Not applicable until the outcome of the review is complete not applicable.