Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to address regional disparities in the prescribing of gluten-free foods for people with coeliac disease.

Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs need to consider the needs of all their population when making decisions on how best to use their budget. NHS England’s guidance should be taken into account when ICBs formulate local policies, and prescribers are expected to reflect local policies in their prescribing practice.

NHS England’s guidance on Prescribing Gluten-Free Foods in Primary Care states that commissioners restrict the prescribing of gluten free foods to bread and mixes only. Under the current legislation, ICBs may choose to further restrict product choice, or end the prescribing of gluten free foods altogether, if they feel this is appropriate for their population, and whilst taking account of their legal duties to advance equality and having regard to reducing health inequalities.

The national prescribing position in England remains that gluten free bread and mixes can be provided to coeliac patients on a National Health Service prescription, and a wide range of these items continue to be listed in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. This means that prescribers can issue NHS prescriptions, based on a shared decision between prescriber and patient, while also being mindful of local and national guidance.