30 June 2022

Following the recent inquest into the death of an 80-year-old with coeliac disease and other complex health conditions, who was fed gluten in hospital, Coeliac UK is calling for improvements to hospital food guidelines.

We’re taking a number of steps aimed at improving safety for patients with coeliac disease when in hospital:

• Calling on Government for increased funding to provide education on this serious autoimmune disease to all healthcare professionals
• Direct liaison with hospitals to provide educational materials on providing a gluten free diet for people with coeliac disease
• Support to patients with coeliac disease who are due to attend hospital
• Connecting with allergy organisations on the provision of special dietary needs in hospitals, to ensure a joined-up multidisciplinary approach as recommended in the Hospital Food Review report
• Requesting that the NHS review their information, which currently does not sufficiently identify vomiting as a symptom of coeliac disease

Urgent action needs to be taken to improve education amongst all staff. As well as contacting the NHS, Coeliac UK is also reaching out to hospitals directly with educational material, guidelines and a training programme.

For patients or family with concerns, the charity is also providing tools and information for people going into hospital for treatment.

Read our full statement here