Find out more about why your may be told by your GP or pharmacist that you can no longer gain certain gluten free foods on your prescription.
Why are certain gluten free foods being restricted on prescription?
This is because the NHS is trying to reduce its costs and save money. Gluten free items being restricted in some areas include pasta, sweet biscuits and cake mix. Pasta is a staple food in the UK diet and Coeliac UK’s position is that staple foods such as bread (including fresh bread), pasta, flours, crisp breads and pizza bases listed for prescription should remain available.It is felt that with sweet products such as cakes mixes and sweet biscuits it is difficult to argue for their continued existence on prescription in light of the health-eating messages from the government. In the case of cake mix and sweet biscuits Coeliac UK feels that this should no longer be available on prescription.
Whilst it is important to aim for a healthy, well-balanced diet it should be remembered that all foods are allowed in moderation and these foods can play an important role in the diets of some patients with coeliac disease where nutritional intake and status is of concern.
There are a number of multipurpose mixes available on prescription which can be used to make good-quality, gluten free cakes.
What is Glutafin doing about these gluten free prescription restrictions?
We are aware that some Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are reviewing their policies on the prescribing of gluten free foods. Changes include restricting access to certain products and/or limiting the amount available. We share concerns about the impact of such policies on patients & their ability to comply with a nutritionally adequate gluten free diet.In order to both verify & question this policy, we have turned to our Industry Group, the BSNA (British Specialist Nutrition Association) to act on our behalf.
The BSNA has held discussions with Coeliac UK & we are aware that Coeliac UK is contacting individual PCTs to take up the matter of restriction of gluten free products on prescription in order to ensure a fair outcome for coeliac patients.
What can I do about it?
We would suggest that in the first instance you contact Coeliac UK (0845 305 2060) to outline the following:- Location of the restriction
- Who informed you of the restriction (i.e. GP. Pharmacist, PCT etc)
- What level of restriction is in place i.e. full or partial (if partial try to explain what is allowed)
- Was any rationale provided to explain the restriction (i.e. PCT decision, new pharmacy-prescribing scheme etc)
In addition, you could also look to contact your local dietitian and make them aware of the restriction in place.
If you have any concerns about prescribing in your area, or wish to know more about what is happening in your area, email prescriptions@coeliac.org.uk
In our local PCT we have been restricted to 8 items a month from a small list of bread & flours. The flours are totally useless for making bread in the breadmaker as they turn out about 3 inches high & very heavy.