24 December 2013

On the 23 December, Oxfordshire CCG published a statement confirming that a revised policy for gluten-free prescribing will be implemented in January 2014.

Their policy, developed after their review in October 2013, will mean providing 8 units a month for all and restricting access to gluten-free bread and flour only. This is 50% less than national recommendations.

We have submitted a response to this report and reiterated our concern that restrictions remain across all age groups and would have a significant impact on the most vulnerable. We also highlighted the need for assessment of the impact of the policy on patient related health outcomes. Therefore, we asked for feedback on the following questions:

1. Will there be ongoing monitoring of the long term health outcomes for patients with coeliac disease and the associated dietetic support and information available to them?
2. How do they plan to safeguard vulnerable individuals from the effects of this policy?
3. What are the next steps to highlight requirements for dietetic services as well as, provide prescribing guidance for GPs?

We will continue to keep you updated with developments and support ongoing access to gluten-free staple foods on prescription, in line with the National Prescribing Guidelines.