Lancashire and South Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)
Level of change document, February 2022
| Policy | Current CCG policy | Proposed/updated policy | Level of change/difference |
| Policy for the Provision of Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Flash Glucose Monitoring to patients with Diabetes Mellitus | Identifies the detailed access criteria for the provision of CGMs and Flash Glucose Monitors to patients with Type 1 diabetes, including how patients continue funding these devices. Contains updated criteria for pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes and to use Flash as an alternative to CGMs if pregnant women express a clear preference for Flash monitors. | Contains detailed access criteria for the provision of CGMs and Flash Glucose Monitors as before but now expanded across the board to include Type 2 diabetics who take insulin to help control their diabetes. This applies to all diabetics, including pregnant women. Any person with diabetes who is eligible for a CGM can now choose a Flash glucose monitor if they and their clinician consider this is appropriate. | Policy now includes people with Type 2 diabetes using a basal-bolus insulin regimen. This broadens the scope of the policy significantly and allows a higher proportion of patients with diabetes to benefit from the access criteria. All patients who qualify for a CGM under the policy now have an opportunity to choose a Flash monitor if they have the support of their clinician. Some adjustments to qualifying periods for continued funding also made. |
| Policy for the Commissioning of Cosmetic Procedures – Provision of Wigs | Routinely commissioned for patients who meet restricted criteria – only provided in cases of hair loss due to cancer treatment and trauma. | Restricted criteria – provided in cases of hair loss due to a medical condition, cancer treatment and trauma. Not commissioned for people with hair loss due to ageing. | Considerably expands eligibility to patients with hair loss due to a medical condition. No specific medical conditions mentioned (such as alopecia) as all medical conditions included. |
| Facial Nerve Physiotherapy and Electrotherapy Policy | Routinely commissioned for patients who meet the restricted criteria – patients must meet all three criteria including having Bell’s palsy more than 12 months. | Not routinely commissioned. | Patients no longer have routine access to this treatment as it is not effective. Access criteria have been removed. Limited impact on patients as very few cases each year. Policy expanded to include electrotherapy for facial nerve damage and policy renamed accordingly. |
| Hernia (abdominal) Surgery Policy | Applies to Greater Preston and Chorley and South Ribble CCGs only. Identifies the various types of abdominal hernia and the access criteria for referral for surgery, including routine commissioning of female groin and femoral hernias. | New policy will apply to all 8 CCGs in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Incorporates the EBI2 procedure for minimal symptomatic inguinal hernia (no change required). Covers the same types and access criteria as existing policy but with broader detail and the addition of hernias at the port of bariatric surgery. | Will be Lancashire and South Cumbria wide policy. Greater emphasis on emergency treatment for obstructed or strangulated hernias of any type, more detail on what is meant by symptomatic hernias that will be referred to secondary care (hospital) and adds hernias at the port of bariatric surgery as a hernia that will also be referred. |
Page last updated: 10:40, 17/02/2022