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

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

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?

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

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

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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.