A consultation is being launched today around proposed changes to the prescribing guidelines for gluten free food for adults.

NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group’s Governing Body approved the move at its meeting on Thursday (September 7) as part of steps to manage finances in a challenging environment.

The NHS has a limited budget and with an increasing demand for services, the CCG has to evaluate every service very carefully. The changes could save the CCG around £100,000 a year.

People with a clinical diagnosis of coeliac disease, which is caused by a reaction to gluten, can currently be prescribed gluten free foods. This started in the 1960s, when the availability of manufactured GF foods was limited.

The CCGs current system limits GF food prescriptions to staples (pasta, bread, flour and bread mixes) and also limits the amount that can be prescribed.

The changes to the guidelines would mean:

• GPs would be asked to suspend prescribing GF foods to adults aged over 18 diagnosed with coeliac disease
• GPs would still be able to prescribe where they feel there is a genuine risk to an individual’s nutritional status
• There would be no change to the guidelines for people under 18

Brian Hughes, Director of Commissioning and Performance at NHS Sheffield CCG said:  “We have looked at all the evidence available and have concluded that prescribing of gluten free products to adults is not the best use of NHS resources.

“The cost of providing these manufactured foods through the NHS is significantly more than the retail purchase price if people buy them directly.

“These are now widely available in supermarkets across Sheffield and prices have fallen to make them more comparable to products containing gluten.

“In addition, lots of foods are naturally gluten free such as fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, meat, chicken, fish, cheese, eggs, rice and lentils.

“GPs prescribe according to their clinical judgement so the proposed changes are guidelines only. It would not apply if a GP feels there is a genuine risk to the nutritional status of a vulnerable individual.”

The consultation runs until Friday October 20 and people can access the document here and have their say about the proposed changes.

For further information please contact sheccg.comms@nhs.net or 0114 305 1398.