Changes to prescriptions of Gluten Free Products
As of 4th December 2018 only gluten-free bread and gluten-free food mixes to be prescribed on the NHS. If you wish to include other gluten-free products in their diet then these can be purchased from supermarkets, health food shops or pharmacies.
In recent years the variety and accessibility of gluten free products in supermarkets has improved dramatically. The vast majority of foods are naturally gluten free; however, some specialist gluten free products cost more than the equivalent gluten containing items. Prescribing staple gluten free foods which are more expensive to buy in the supermarket such as bread and mixes will help subsidise a gluten free diet.
Why are we prescribing only bread and mixes?
The
outcome of a national consultation by the Department of Health was to retain a
limited range of bread and mixes on prescription. This means that other gluten free
foods e.g. pasta, pizza bases, cereals, grains, flour and biscuits etc., will
no longer be prescribed.
Why are only some brands of bread and mixes
included?
To
ensure that the gluten free products that remain available on prescription will
be cost effective for prescribing through the NHS and provide appropriate patients
with basic provisions to support a gluten free diet.
Will fresh bread be included?
Yes
– many people prefer fresh bread and many gluten free suppliers have now
removed the substantial surcharges that were associated with fresh bread. Where
fresh GF bread is prescribed, it is advised to freeze surplus quantities
immediately upon receipt as fresh GF bread deteriorates rapidly if stored at
room temperature.
Why can’t gluten free products from the supermarket be available on prescription?
It
would be nice if we could do this – unfortunately the way the NHS works means
that only pharmacies or dispensing doctors’ practices are able to dispense NHS
prescriptions.
Why are you no longer funding
biscuits, cakes, etc.?
Biscuits
and cakes are not considered part of a healthy diet and for the practice and
the NHS as a whole to prescribe these would be at odds with national health
messages. For more information and advice on a healthy eating contact your
local pharmacy, surgery or find out more from NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/ .
Why are you not funding pizza bases
and pasta on NHS prescription anymore?
The
outcome of the consultation was to retain a limited range of bread and mixes only
on prescription. There are various naturally gluten free foods that can be
eaten in place of pasta, such as potatoes, rice, rice noodles etc. Gluten free
pizza bases and pasta are available from supermarkets at a reasonable cost and
are similarly priced to the equivalent gluten containing products.
Cost of gluten free products to the
NHS
Gluten
free products on prescription cost more than gluten free products in the
supermarket. It is unclear why the NHS is charged so much for gluten free
products. There is no obvious reason as to why these items prescribed on the
NHS cost more than double the supermarket price of similar items.
Are there no other ways in which the
NHS could save money?
The
NHS is constantly looking for ways to save money without impact on patient
care. This means that the NHS has to look for ways of doing things differently
and every little helps. The basis of this policy is not to penalise those who
suffer from coeliac disease, but to provide some support towards the increased
cost of maintaining a gluten free diet to an extent that the average weekly
food bill would be similar to that of the rest of the population.
Patients
with coeliac disease are not alone – there are frequently restrictions on the
range of items that can be supplied on the NHS on prescription. Examples
include over the counter items for self-limiting and minor conditions (e.g. sun
creams, dandruff shampoo) the provision of a synthetic wig (but not a real-hair
wig), dentures, crowns and bridges (but not dental implants), basic spectacle
frames (but not necessarily fashionable ones).
For more information please contact your local pharmacy or the surgery
