Key Stakeholders & patients input to the DH Consultation on Gluten-Free Foods
A range of key stakeholders including Coeliac UK, British Dietetic Association (BDA), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology (PCSG), pharmacy bodies, as well as patients themselves, have responded to the recent Department of Health (DH) consultation on the future of gluten-free prescribing in England.
The stakeholders expressed concern at the proposals and support for the continued availability of staple gluten-free products on prescription. Regional variation in gluten-free prescribing led to the DH consultation which set out three options for consideration:
Coeliac UK
Coeliac UK submitted a comprehensive response to the consultation and also met with the Department of Health to put forward the voice of their members.
Read Coeliac UK’s consultation response
Professional Associations
The British Dietetic Association, British Society of Gastroenterology, Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have also responded, strongly backing that gluten-free prescriptions remain in order to ensure that patient care is not compromised.
Read the BDA’s consultation response
British Specialist Nutrition Association
The British Specialist Nutrition Association (BSNA) represents manufacturers who produce gluten free foods which are available on prescription for patients with coeliac disease. The consultation prompted BSNA to seek the views of patients, along with parents and carers of sufferers, to understand the role of a gluten-free prescription in managing their lifelong condition. A patient survey was undertaken and the questions were tailored to inform the Department of Health consultation with a focus on specific product categories, support and access to healthcare. There was also the opportunity for respondents to include comments on the potential impact of removal of gluten-free prescriptions. The responses were then used to help BSNA formulate an official response to the Department of Health consultation.
In total, over 4,000 responses were received. The key findings were that the majority of respondents viewed a gluten-free prescription as ‘the most important’ or ‘an important factor’ in helping them to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Interestingly, over ¾ of respondents who received a prescription also had an annual review compared to over ⅓ of respondents not receiving a prescription, who had not. This suggests that provision of a gluten-free prescription facilitates regular, ongoing access to a healthcare professional in line with the NICE Quality Standard, which states an annual review should be offered to patients with coeliac disease.
Read the full survey summary
Read BSNA’s consultation response
In the meantime, Coeliac UK is suggesting that if patients or a member of their family feel they would be affected if gluten-free products were removed from prescription, that they write to their MP to explain why this is important to them. A template letter is available from the Coeliac UK website.
- Make no changes to the current system;
- Remove gluten-free foods from prescription;
- Only allow prescribing of certain foods (bread and flour).
Stakeholder Responses
Coeliac UKCoeliac UK submitted a comprehensive response to the consultation and also met with the Department of Health to put forward the voice of their members.
Read Coeliac UK’s consultation response
Professional Associations
The British Dietetic Association, British Society of Gastroenterology, Primary Care Society of Gastroenterology and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have also responded, strongly backing that gluten-free prescriptions remain in order to ensure that patient care is not compromised.
Read the BDA’s consultation response
British Specialist Nutrition Association
The British Specialist Nutrition Association (BSNA) represents manufacturers who produce gluten free foods which are available on prescription for patients with coeliac disease. The consultation prompted BSNA to seek the views of patients, along with parents and carers of sufferers, to understand the role of a gluten-free prescription in managing their lifelong condition. A patient survey was undertaken and the questions were tailored to inform the Department of Health consultation with a focus on specific product categories, support and access to healthcare. There was also the opportunity for respondents to include comments on the potential impact of removal of gluten-free prescriptions. The responses were then used to help BSNA formulate an official response to the Department of Health consultation.
In total, over 4,000 responses were received. The key findings were that the majority of respondents viewed a gluten-free prescription as ‘the most important’ or ‘an important factor’ in helping them to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Interestingly, over ¾ of respondents who received a prescription also had an annual review compared to over ⅓ of respondents not receiving a prescription, who had not. This suggests that provision of a gluten-free prescription facilitates regular, ongoing access to a healthcare professional in line with the NICE Quality Standard, which states an annual review should be offered to patients with coeliac disease.
Read the full survey summary
Read BSNA’s consultation response
What happens next?
The Department of Health will be putting together a full report on the response they have received so far, with a recommendation of the next steps. There is unlikely to be an announcement until the autumn.In the meantime, Coeliac UK is suggesting that if patients or a member of their family feel they would be affected if gluten-free products were removed from prescription, that they write to their MP to explain why this is important to them. A template letter is available from the Coeliac UK website.
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