29 March 2016

Since we announced that the South Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had stopped prescribing gluten-free food, we’ve been working hard on your behalf to oppose the restrictions.

We’ve been in communications with the local HealthWatch (the charity which promotes evidence-based medicine), Health and Wellbeing Board (which acts as a forum for key people in the health and care system to work together to improve health) and local healthcare professionals (from GPs to dietitians) about the decision, and we were very keen to find out more about how and why the decision was made by the CCG.

Why was the decision made to cut gluten-free prescriptions?

Three main reasons were given by the CCG as to why the removal of gluten-free food occurred. These were:

• that the decision as part of a wider decision regarding the CCG’s prescribing policies, forming part of the savings required to meet the CCG’s reported deficit of £6.6m in 2015/16, alongside other products and medications which are no longer being prescribed
• that the gluten-free diet can be followed without specialist gluten-free products such as bread
• that there is adequate access to gluten-free products at supermarkets in South Norfolk.

Our thoughts about the CCG’s above reasoning is that:

• there is no indication as to what money could be saved by cutting gluten-free prescriptions, and other treatments were being prioritised over gluten-free prescribing; meaning people with coeliac disease are being singled out
• research shows that access to gluten-free staples on prescription has been related to improved adherence to the gluten-free diet.  Poor adherence to the gluten-free diet increases the risk of long term complications such as osteoporosis which has a significant impact on the individual as well as cost implications for the NHS in the long term
• we know that there is both significant increased cost and variable availability of gluten-free products in supermarkets and stores across the UK.

Our concerns

Our main concern, as with other CCGs in England, is that the South Norfolk CCG did not consult with local people with coeliac disease (nor make them aware of their plans) prior to making their decision to cut gluten-free prescriptions, and we also were not made aware of this decision. Instead, the CCG consulted with people who do not have coeliac disease.

Furthermore, neighbouring NHS Norwich CCG held meetings with local dietitians and gastroenterologists in the area to discuss their own plans and the healthcare professionals were not supportive of the CCG’s decision to cut gluten-free prescriptions.

Moving forward

We continue to campaign to protect gluten-free prescribing in England, both at a national and local level, find out more about our campaigning activities at www.coeliac.org.uk/prescriptioncampaign

Norma McGough, our Director of Policy, Research and Campaigns, will be speaking about gluten-free prescribing at the Norfolk and Norwich Local Voluntary Support Group AGM on Saturday 2 April at Chapelbreak Community Centre, Bowthorpe, Norwich, NR5 9LG from 12-4pm.