19 April 2018

The Isle of Man’s Department of Health and Social Care have recently issued a statement on gluten free food on prescription announcing their decision to remove routine access to gluten free food on prescription.

We are very concerned that this decision appears to have been taken without any public consultation with people with coeliac disease.

We will be responding to the Department and will be asking them to reconsider their decision. Our arguments will focus on the importance of gluten free staples on prescription to support management and adherence to the gluten free diet in view of higher cost and limited availability. Research shows that gluten free staple foods are not readily available to purchase in budget supermarkets and convenience stores and that gluten free staple foods are 3-4 times more expensive than gluten containing equivalents.

Have your say

To respond:

• Write to the Department of Health and Social Care by using the online form or by writing to Crookall House, Demesne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3QA
• Raise the issue with your representative in the House of Keys, we have a template letter which you can use, or please feel free to write your own letter

We will provide updates as the situation progresses through Crossed Grain magazine, on our website and in our email newsletter.