§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans to finance an alternative service to the recently closed Hammersmith hostel for the rehabilitation of young diabetics, in the light of the consultant paediatrician's expressions of discontent with the alternatives provided by the local area health authority.
§ Sir George YoungThis unit was administered by the Inner London Education Authority and following closure it has offered alternative placements for those previously accommodated there. Any Health Service support is a matter for discussion between that authority and the appropriate health authorities.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider making available to insulin-dependent diabetics on prescription by means of Form FP10, a test-strip, the name of which has been supplied to him.
§ Sir George YoungAlthough the test-strip in question, the BM-Test GLYCEMIE 20–800, is proving an effective method for specially-trained diabetic patients to monitor their blood-glucose levels, to make it generally available on the prescription of general practitioners rather than as at present through the hospital and specialist services, would 413W significantly increase National Health Service costs.
In the circumstances, I propose to keep the matter under review as one of the possible improvements in the Service to be introduced when resources permit.