Updating our diabetes equipment monitoring policy
Following new national recommendations, we have updated our guidance for adult diabetes monitoring equipment.
Brief description of the project
In Leeds, people living with diabetes currently use a wide range of products to monitor their condition. This includes:
- Blood Glucose Test Strips (BGTS)
- Ketone strips
- Lancets
In October 2023, NHS England published new national recommendations. We have updated our West Yorkshire policy on testing equipment to ensure it reflects these changes.
These changes mean that we need to amend the range of blood glucose monitoring products we provide. This will mean that:
- people across West Yorkshire will have access to the same products.
- there will be a minimum standard of product for people with diabetes.
- the same products will be used by GP practices, hospitals and diabetes clinics.
- we are getting the best value for our NHS budget.
At the end of this project, people living with diabetes, across West Yorkshire, will use products recommended by NHS England.
Who will we speak to?
We will contact adults already receiving testing equipment on repeat prescription at selected practices in Leeds.
What and how will we ask?
We will discuss the testing equipment people currently use, and outline the benefits of moving to a different product. We will ask if they have any concerns about the change. We will speak to people over the phone. If we are unable to contact people by phone they will be informed about the change by letter.
The GP practice will identify people who have specific communication needs, such as people whose first language is not English, using interpreters if necessary.
What will we do?
We will move diabetes patients onto testing equipment recommended in the new West Yorkshire guidance, which means that the products are in line with the national NHS England recommendations. The involvement will help us to understand any challenges that people might have with the change, and we will use people’s feedback to reduce the impact.
How can you help?
We would ask patients to use up any diabetes monitoring equipment they have at home before making the switch to the new product. This will help to NHS waste and environmental damage.
Further information
If you have any questions about this project, please contact Clair or Toni at wyicb-leeds.prescribingteam.nhs.net or call 0113 221 7777 (reception).
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