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  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    Coeliac UK Charity Pushes Back Against Plan to Scrap Gluten-Free Food Prescriptions

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Coeliac UK charity says that plan to scrap gluten-free food prescriptions violates Government guidance

    Coeliac UK Charity Pushes Back Against Plan to Scrap Gluten-Free Food Prescriptions - Tower Bridge, London, UK. Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--tkspencer
    Caption: Tower Bridge, London, UK. Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--tkspencer

    Celiac.com 01/06/2020 - National charity Coeliac UK is opposing the further proposed cuts to gluten-free prescriptions for many patients in Buckinghamshire, which they say goes against the Government’s decision to maintain this essential support for all patients with celiac disease.

    For those unfamiliar with the British system of getting gluten-free food to people with celiac and other gluten sensitivities, the system works by providing prescriptions for gluten-free bread and flour mixes.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    Citing recent trends toward more readily available gluten-free foods in general, there has been a push by some in UK government to eliminate food prescriptions, which are currently handled as part of the NHS, the UK's famous health program.

    The charity points to a recent effort by the NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to include people who would not be affected by any policy change in their survey of views on the matter of eliminating access to gluten-free bread and flour mix currently available on prescription. The charity fears that allowing people with no actual stake in the matter to comment, including those who don't understand why people need gluten-free food, or who see gluten-free food as a lifestyle choice, rather than a medical necessity, will skew the debate and the result.

    The charity's concern is that cuts to gluten-free prescriptions may leave some celiac patients without access to the gluten-free food they need to maintain their diet, which is medically necessary to treat celiac disease. 

    The charity has encouraged all those affected to complete an online survey so that their opinions are heard. Although the survey is now closed, the responses to it will be published on February 10, 2020. 

    What do you think? Should people who don't have celiac disease or gluten-intolerance have a say in the debate over access to gluten-free food? Share your thought in the comments below.

    Read more at bucksherald.co.uk



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    Guest Jacquie

    Posted

    They definitely shout NOT have a say in the debate. They don’t have a clue as to how expensive a gluten free diet is

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    trents

    I wish some clarification here. Can people in the UK buy gluten free food ingredients without a prescription? Can you just go to a store and buy it like you would a loaf of wheat bread or must you have a script? Is the prescription for tax deduction purposes or does the script give you a discount? Or is this prescription something like food stamps here in the USA that are given to low income folks?

    Edited by trents
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    cristiana

    Hi trents

    Great question...

    You can buy gluten free food/ingredients without a prescription.  Unfortunately often the prices are substantially greater than gluten containing equivalents.   For example, my favourite brand of gluten-free bread is made by Genius and you are looking at £2.50 for a sliced white gluten-free loaf.   Compare that with a loaf of normal Warburtons white sliced farmhouse bread which costs £1.00.   This sort of price difference also applies to staples such as pasta, flour etc.    As for biscuits (cookies) - yes, I know I shouldn't eat them 😊 - there's a really noticeable difference - for example, ten custard creams cost about £1.40 at one supermarket, which sells its own economy gluten containing brand for 30 pence, with about twenty in the pack. 

    That said, I've noticed a trend much cheaper pasta appearing in the supermarkets now. We picked up a packet for 45 pence the other day.  For the same sized bag in a deli you would be paying over £2.50.   If you have time, it really pays to shop around.

     

    Personally I have never bothered with the prescription because I feel there are those in greater need than me and I don't want to put more pressure on the NHS than I have to, but I realise I am in a very fortunate position to be able to make that call.

    Cristiana

     

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    cristiana

    Trents... just saw the second part of your question.  It's a bit complicated so I'll post this link from Coeliac UK.

    Open Original Shared Link

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    trents

    So does the prescription for gluten free ingredients allow your health insurance to pick up the tab, or part of it? I'm trying to understand what advantage the prescription gives.

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    cristiana

    It is nothing to do with private health insurance, it is available via the National Health Service.   So if you are ordinarily resident in the UK, you are entitled to use the NHS which is state health care - GPs, hospitals etc etc.  Usually this is free treatment, or subsidized care (as in the case of dentists). Prescriptions carry charges, apart from the elderly, children, and for those who cannot afford to pay.  This is a very big generalisation mind you - in reality the system is a bit more complicated.

    Open Original Shared Link

    I'm not sure how much you get in return but as I understand it you pay a flat £9.35 charge as you would for any medical prescription (for example, if you needed a pack of omeprazole or an inhaler that is how much you are charged per prescription) in exchange  you get a certain number of units of gluten free flour and bread in return.  

    C.

     

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    trents

    Okay, I see. By "insurance" I meant, in this case, government provided medical coverage, not private insurance.

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    cristiana

    I see... yes, that's right, government provided.  I must admit I was handed a leaflet about prescriptions upon diagnosis and found the whole thing very confusing, so I'm just hoping I've got my facts straight.   I'd be interested to know how many coeliacs in the UK actually use the prescription service, out of my own circle I'd say about 50 per cent of my friends do.

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    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

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