Gluten free items could go in NHS prescriptions shake-up to cut costs
Stopping gluten free food prescriptions will save the trust which buys health services in Shropshire around £120,000 a year.
Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group are planning to start an engagement process over the next two months with a deadline date of August 1 for gluten free products to be no longer allowed on NHS prescriptions within Shropshire CCG.
Evidence submitted to NHS England argues that the prescribing of gluten free products dates back to the 1960s when there was not the choice there is now in supermarkets and shops.
In a report by Sean Mackey, interim head of medicines management, it states a national consultation by the Department of Health is due to be completed by June 22 with a view to actions to be taken around 18 months from now.
The paper says: "With a growing population, rising demand for services and a limited budget, Shropshire CCG, like other NHS organisations, has to review all the services we commission to ensure that we are using NHS funds appropriately and fairly
"Due to communication from NHS Clinical Commissioning around products that should not be prescribed on the NHS, the CCG has decided to review its policy on gluten free products with the intention of advising GPs not to prescribe gluten-free products on NHS prescriptions.
"The Clinical Commissioning Committee in May decided that the CCG should no longer support the prescribing of gluten free products on NHS prescriptions.
"Prescribing gluten free products costs the NHS in SCCG around £120,000 a year.
"As commissioners, the CCG has a limited budget with which to deliver high quality local health services which are able to cope with the annual increase in demand for services.
"Many CCGs, are considering or have already gone down this route including Bath and North Somerset CCG, Norfolk CCG, and Chorley and South Ribble CCG."
A spokeswoman for NHS England said: “The increasing demand for prescriptions for medication that can be bought over the counter at relatively low cost, often for self-limiting or minor conditions, underlines the need for all healthcare professionals to work even closer with patients to ensure the best possible value from NHS resources, whilst eliminating wastage and improving patient outcomes.”
The plans will be discussed at a meeting of Shropshire CCG at Shropshire Education & Conference Centre at 9.30am on Wednesday.
