Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 December 2003. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 4 December 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what diagnostic methods are available on the NHS to allow diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels; whether he intends that provision of blood glucose test strips will remain available on the NHS in the long term.

Answer: Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what diagnostic methods are available on the NHS to allow diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels; [141153] (2) whether he intends that provision of blood glucose test strips will remain available on the NHS in the long term. [141154] Ms Rosie Winterton: There are two types of diagnostic methods available on the National Health Service that allow people with diabetes to self-monitor their blood glucose levels. These are blood glucose testing strips and urine testing strips. Blood glucose testing strips will remain available on the NHS for the foreseeable future and I am not aware of any plans to remove them from NHS prescriptions.

Secondary information