Change to Gluten Free Prescribing on the NHS

From the 1^st of December 2016, NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has made all Gluten Free products non-formulary (the Somerset formulary advises GPs on safe, evidence based cost effective prescribing).

Gluten free products are now more widely available from shops and supermarkets to purchase instead, either in person or via online delivery and the price of these products continues to decrease.

Gluten free products previously provided on prescription such as GF pasta can also be substituted with alternatives naturally gluten free products such as rice and potatoes.

This has not been an easy decision for the Somerset CCG but there is now a need in the current financial environment to restrict NHS spending.

A gluten free checklist and advice on cooking and baking can be found at the Coeliac UK support website: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/gluten-free-diet-and-lifestyle/cooking-and-baking/ and https://www.coeliac.org.uk/document-library/126-gluten-free-checklist/gluten-free-checklist-2015-online.pdf

Your local community pharmacy can order gluten free products for you to purchase if there are particular brands you wish to keep as part of your diet. However these may well be more expensive than equivalent products available from supermarkets and other shops.

Somerset CCG Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is available to discuss this change if you need advice, have concerns or don’t know where to turn. As a patient, relative or carer, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice and support. This is where the Patient Advice and Liaison Service can help. This service is free and confidential. Their aim is to help sort out any problems or concerns you may have when using health services, agree the best way forward to deal with a problem and get it resolved as quickly as possible. PALS can be contacted via:

The attached leaflet gives useful information on food and whether they are gluten free