Consultation on prescriptions for gluten-free foods

Gluten-free (GF) foods have long been available on prescription for those with a gluten sensitivity since the availability of GF food was very limited. The Department of Health would welcome your views on their proposals for restricting these.

There is now a far wider range of GF food and they are now readily available in most supermarkets so that patients are much more able to access the foods they need without a prescription. It is estimated that reducing prescriptions for GF foods could save £25.7 million per year on the NHS prescription drugs bill.

The Minister for Health has agreed to launch this public consultation on whether to make changes to the prescribing legislation for GF foods. The options considered are:

Option 1: Make no changes to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004. Under this option GF foods would continue to be prescribed in primary care at NHS expense as now.
Option 2: To add all GF foods to Schedule 1 of the above regulations to end the prescribing of GF foods in primary care. Under this option no GF foods would be available on prescription in primary care.
Option 3: To only allow the prescribing of certain GF foods (e.g. bread and flour) in primary care, by amending Schedule 1 of the above regulations. Under this option only certain GF foods would be available on prescription in primary care.