A number of Crawley residents have contacted me regarding provision locally of the Freestyle Libre, a flash glucose monitoring device which helps people with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.
It allows Diabetics to test glucose levels without needing to constantly prick their finger with a needle and using a test strip to check their blood sugar levels. Alternatives such as Freestyle Libre work by having a small sensor on your body automatically measuring and continuously storing glucose readings day and night, which can be read in seconds using a pocket-sized scanner.
It is up to local Clinical Commissioning Groups to determine provision in their local area, in our case it is the responsibility of Crawley CCG, who have decided against providing flash devices on NHS prescription at this time.
Diabetes UK estimate that 6.9 per cent of adults in Crawley have Diabetes; just higher than the English national average. Fewer than one fifth of CCGs have decided not to make flash glucose monitoring available.
Alongside the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes I am organising a petition to be presented in the House of Commons, urging the CCG to change their decision, which I anticipate I will bring forward in the chamber in the coming weeks. Flash glucose monitoring would greatly help people with Diabetes in Crawley who would then have an alternative to having to prick their fingers and drawing blood to check their sugar levels.
If you would like to join me in calling for this support for people with Diabetes in Crawley, please click here to download a petition sheet. The only requirement is that all signatories must be Crawley residents.
If all forms could be sent to me at: Henry Smith MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, I would be very grateful.
Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info