Ending gluten-free prescriptions could save £25m, DH claims

The Department for Health has launched a consultation on the prescription of gluten-free foods, claiming the move could save the NHS £25 million annually.

The consultation follows NHS England’s recent announcement of new guidance on the prescription of low value items such as travel vaccines, painkillers, and gluten-free foods.

The consultation will consider ending the prescription of all gluten-free foods in primary care, with estimates suggesting this could save £25.7 million a year for the health service. An additional £10 million could be saved through patients no longer needing to attend GP appointments in order to get their gluten-free prescriptions.

Currently, staple gluten-free foods such as bread, flour and pasta have been available on prescription to patients diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, since the late 1960s when it was less easy to buy them. However, the DH has argued gluten-free foods are now sold in many supermarkets and a wider range of naturally
gluten-free food types is also available.

Health minister, Lord O’Shaughnessy said: “The NHS is one of the most efficient health services in the world, but we need to do more to ensure we get the best possible value for taxpayers’ money. Changing the way we prescribe gluten-free food could make an important contribution to saving the NHS millions of pounds a year.”