10 February 2016

We're pleased to share an update from HealthWatch Suffolk, following the decision from Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and West Suffolk CCG to introduce restrictive policies on the prescribing of gluten-free food.

We announced the restrictive policies for the CCGs on 7 January, and since then we have continued to oppose the policy change. We wrote to HealthWatch Suffolk in January to highlight the recent policy change and to ask to work with the HealthWatch to ensure that the voice of patients with coeliac disease is put forward to the CCG.

HealthWatch Suffolk have responded and informed us that they plan to challenge the CCG on the lack of consultation and that several patients have successfully challenged the policy, with one individual being able to negotiate a continuation of their prescription at a reduced quantity. 

More information is available on the HealthWatch website, including a full copy of their response to Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive of Coeliac UK.