People in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland asked to join the conversation about gluten-free prescribing

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB) has launched a six-week public consultation and is keen to understand the impact of stopping the prescribing of gluten free bread or flour each month, on patients and their families. 

Patients diagnosed with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis are currently prescribed a maximum of eight units of gluten-free bread or flour per month. Prescriptions for gluten-free products are taken up by approximately 1,300 people across LLR.

The public consultation, which closes on Sunday 25 August 2024, will inform future decisions made by the NHS as to whether it should continue to prescribe gluten-free products.

The LLR ICB’s proposals are based on a number of factors, including the increased availability of gluten-free foods. In the past gluten-free foods were less easy to obtain, so they were made available from local pharmacies via prescription. However, with an increased awareness of coeliac disease and gluten intolerance, as well as a general trend towards eating less gluten, there is greater availability of these foods in many supermarkets and online. Improvements have also been made to food labelling so that it is easier to see whether ordinary foods are free from gluten.