§ Dr Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of accumulating evidence of the advantages of blood glucose testing in the successful control of patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, particularly those diabetics whose blood sugar fluctuations have detrimental prognostic implications, he will take steps to enable such patients to be supplied with blood glucose meters that they can operate and interpret themselves.
§ Dr VaughanI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mr. Race) on 29 April 1980—[Vol. 983, c.442-43]—and my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr Thomas) on 13 November 1980—[Vol. 992, c. 412-3]. Area health authorities may already make blood glucose monitors available to patients on the prescription of hospital consultants.