Will the Minister confirm if and when NHS Wales will be providing access to Flash and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for all adults with type 1 diabetes, as recommended by NICE guidelines that were updated on 31 March 2022?
I expect health boards to deliver diabetes care in line with guidance from expert bodies, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Health Technology Wales (HTW). This helps to ensure there is equity of access across Wales to healthcare interventions, people benefit from interventions that have been shown to work, and that NHS resources are used to the greatest effect.
Health boards are already offering flash glucose monitoring devices to patients with Type 1 diabetes in line with patients’ preferences. They are also working towards offering continuous glucose monitoring in line with the NICE guidance but there are staff training implications to be addressed.
I also expect health boards to consider whether Type 2 patients who are dependent on insulin should be offered suitable devices in line with advice issued by HTW which shows there could be benefit in doing so.