19 December 2016

NHS Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and East Leicestershire & Rutland CCG have made the decision to reduce the amount and range of gluten-free food that an individual can access each month on prescription.

The decision

The CCG will limit the number of units available to 8 units per month. The foods available on prescription will also be limited to bread and flour mix.

While the CCGs have made this decision, we would like to stress that the final decision about what to prescribe lies with your GP. We would encourage you to have a discussion with your GP about gluten-free food on prescription if you are concerned about the impact this may have on you.

What have we been doing to help?

Earlier this year, representatives from Coeliac UK and the Leicestershire Voluntary Support Group met with the CCG to discuss their gluten-free prescribing policy. At this point, a proposal to withdraw all gluten-free food on prescription was put forwards. At the meeting, the importance of access to gluten-free food on prescription was discussed, including the high cost of gluten-free staple foods and the importance of these staples as part of a healthy balanced diet.

Since the meeting, Coeliac UK has responded with a number of letters highlighting the importance of gluten-free staples on prescription in light of the higher cost and variable availability of gluten-free foods. We have also written to the CCGs in light of the new NICE quality standard on coeliac disease which was published in October.

Have your say

If you would like to oppose the prescription cuts, there are several things that you can do:

• Contact the local HealthWatch by emailing (info@healthwatchleics.co.uk), calling on 0116 2574 999 or writing to Healthwatch Leicestershire, 9 Newarke Street, Leicester, LE1 5SN
• Contact Leicester City CCG by emailing using the online form, calling on 0116 295 0750 or writing to Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group, St John’s House, 30 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6NB
• Contact West Leicestershire CCG by emailing (enquiries@westleicestershireccg.nhs.uk), calling on 01509 567700 or writing to West Leicestershire CCG, 55 Woodgate, Loughborough, LE11 2TZ
• Write to your local MP, we have a sample letter on our website which you can use, or please feel free to write your own letter explaining how the changes will affect you
• Speak with your local GP about your individual case
• Watch out for more information on next campaign steps particularly on our website

Although we are disappointed that the CCGs have introduced a policy which moves away from National Prescribing Guidelines, we are pleased to see that the CCG has not opted to completely remove gluten-free food on prescription, which was the initial proposal. 

We will provide updates as the situation progresses through direct mailings, Crossed Grain magazine and on our website.