Diabetics denied access to prescriptions for vital blood testing strips

Parliamentary Yearbook reports on a survey by the charity Diabetes UK. The findings reveal alarming facts about the difficulties experienced by people with diabetes in accessing blood testing strips within the NHS. The charity warns of serious long-term health complications and consequent increased costs for the NHS.

Diabetes cannot be cured but can be controlled through diet and medication.  Treatment aims to keep blood glucose to normal levels in order to control symptoms and to minimise associated health problems. Monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels is vital because left untreated the condition can cause very serious complications which are difficult and expensive to treat.  Even a mildly raised blood glucose level that does not present any immediate symptoms can have damaging effects on blood vessels, nerves and organs in the longer term. Complications are frequently dramatic and include limb amputation, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke.

Effective treatment therefore relies crucially on regular measurement of blood glucose levels to establish that levels are within normal limits.  This is particularly important for people with Type 1 diabetes and those with insulin treated Type 2 diabetes. Measurement allows the diabetes patient to safely perform everyday activities that most people take for granted. For example, people with Type 1 diabetes need to test their blood every time they eat, more frequently if they exercise, and every time they drive. According to the charity Diabetes UK, a person with Type 1 diabetes typically self-tests blood at least four times a day. 

Diabetics rely on blood glucose testing strips - currently prescribed by the NHS - in order to test blood glucose levels. However, a new survey by Diabetes UK has revealed some alarming facts about the difficulties experienced by diabetics in getting access to blood glucose testing strips in the NHS. The results are summarized below.

Difficulty accessing blood test strips:

·      Out of 2,203 respondents, 39% had either been refused a prescription of blood glucose test strips or had their prescription restricted.

·     Of these, 55% had test strips restricted within the last year with 33% experiencing a prescription being refused or restricted in the last 6 months.

·      Of those experiencing restrictions, over half had Type 1 diabetes (or were carers of people with Type 1)

Reasons given for refusal or restricted access:

·    Of those who said their prescriptions had been restricted, nearly a quarter (24%) had been told by their GP that this was because of restrictions put in place by their local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS boards or local health board guidelines

·       34% due to “cost saving measures”

·       30% told they were testing too much

·       19% were given no reason

Commenting on the findings, Barbara Young, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: “Test strips are the most basic tools for managing Type 1 diabetes ad insulin treated Type 2 diabetes so it is very worrying that so many people are telling us they are having their test strips rationed because of cost saving measures.”

The survey revealed widespread variation - in different parts of the country – in guidance on prescriptions, with some patients only receiving 2 strips per day. 

Ms Young described some of the reported impacts of these restrictions: “Our survey showed a lack of test strips was stopping them driving, exercising or knowing how much insulin to take when they are eating or whether they are experiencing a ‘hypo’ (hypoglycaemic episode) which needs to be treated immediately.”

As a result of their findings – which many will find scandalous - Diabetes UK is calling on health leaders to remove all blanket policies restricting the number of test strips being prescribed.  The charity has called for “the focus to be on supporting clinicians on how to approach individual assessment and review to reduce waste and meet individual needs”.

The charity has warned that rationing will put people’s lives at risk and, more importantly for government, will store up costs for the NHS in the future.  This is because diabetic complications - related to poorly monitored and controlled blood glucose - are extremely expensive to treat.

According to the charity’s Chief Executive: “Rationing test strips to save money does not make any sense, because it’s putting people at risk of complications that are hugely expensive to treat.”

www.parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk

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