Statement on Policy Consultation

BLMK CCG Policy Alignment

At the meeting held on 29 March 2022, the Governing Body made a decision on three areas of policy alignment that had been subject to Public Consultation from 12 October 2021 to 21 December 2021.

The three areas consulted on were specialist fertility services, gluten-free food on prescription and the Milton Keynes Pharmacy First Minor Ailment scheme.

The decisions made in each policy area were:

Fertility Services

The IVF policy will be extended to offer specialist fertility services to same sex female couples, single females, trans men and non-binary people, who are currently unable to access fertility services under existing policies. The current offer of three cycles of IVF to residents in Luton will be reduced to one cycle for all eligible residents, bringing Luton into line with the rest of Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. Responding to feedback from the consultation the Governing Body agreed that the one cycle offered will be adapted to include one fresh and three frozen embryo transfers, to increase the attempts at pregnancy, compared with the one cycle currently offered in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Gluten-free food on prescription

To withdraw the gluten-free bread and flour available on prescription in Luton, in line with Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes. The Governing Body however recognised increases in the cost of living and the pressures on households and agreed to make provision in the policy to allow residents who are at risk of dietary neglect to access gluten-free foods on prescription, where required.

Milton Keynes Pharmacy First Minor Ailment Scheme

In line with national priorities the roll out of the Community Pharmacy Consultation Scheme (CPCS) will continue with GP practices in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, in order to do this the Governing Body took the decision to withdraw the Pharmacy First Minor Ailment Scheme in Milton Keynes.  This aligns the service with the current offering in Bedfordshire and Luton. The CPCS scheme allows for referral direct from the practice to the pharmacy for patients who require a consultation for minor illness, without having to go through the GP first.