25
REDUCTIONS AND WITHDRAWALS
FOR PARTS OF NHS ENGLAND
O
Over the past 12 months the
number of consultations on
the future of gluten-free food
on prescription across England has
been growing, reflecting the increasing
pressures on NHS budgets. In the latter
parts of 2015 there were a number of
NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups
(CCGs) in England cutting gluten-free food
prescribing services, while others made
significant reductions in either the product
range or the number of units available.
Some campaigning
successes
Alongside our Members in affected areas,
we’ve been campaigning to stave off cuts
to gluten-free prescribing. Making your
views known and describing how changes
will affect you and your family has helped
ensure prescribing can continue in some
areas. For example:
• NHS Torbay CCG consulted with
patients and, as a result, decided to
restrict products but retained the
number of units available
• NHS Chiltern and NHS Aylesbury
CCGs agreed to reduce products and
units following their consultation,
but retained prescribing for staple
gluten-free food of up to eight units.
Others have not been so lucky. In
areas where cuts and restrictions have
been put in place, people with coeliac
disease are really starting to feel the
impact, particularly those struggling
on low or fixed incomes and those
who rely on home deliveries. Most
worrying is the lack of adequate patient
monitoring, needed to assess the
consequences of reduced services.
This is of real concern, as those who
cannot afford to buy gluten-free staple
products could be tempted to put their
health at risk just to pay the bills.
The reforms have also introduced
considerable variation in the patient
care from the NHS across England. It
means that support from NHS England
is a postcode lottery for patients with
coeliac disease.
PRESCRIPTIONS
My Dad’s have just
been cut. We’re
in Blackpool. He is retired
so this is going to have a
massive impact on their
restricted income.
Nicky K, Blackpool
It would mean the
end of some of the
more expensive items. I
cannot afford £3-£4 for a loaf
of bread with nine slices. I
know these items have the
vitamins and minerals I need
to counteract my condition.
Surely keeping well will save
the NHS money.
Kathryn Y,
Greater Manchester
