GLUTEN-FREE foods will no longer be prescribed by the NHS in Gloucestershire as part of cost-cutting efforts by the county's clinical commissioning group (CCG).
In lieu of the change, the CCG has employed a full-time dietician to support GP’s and practice staff as well as patients and are working closely with Coeliac UK to help patients through the change.
Clinical lead, Dr Charles Buckley, said: “The CCG has a duty to plan and prioritise fairly and use the public money available to achieve the maximum health benefit for the people of Gloucestershire.
“It is important to make the point that there are several other medical conditions where a special diet avoiding certain ingredients is essential, but almost all of these are not funded by the NHS.”
In the last financial year, Gloucestershire CCG spent £379,000 on gluten-free prescriptions for Coeliac Disease.
The change will take effect from November 30.
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