Gluten free products will not be automatically available on prescription in west Hertfordshire, as health bosses agreed to continue restricting them.

In the past, sufferers of Coeliac Disease  could be prescribed for a wide range of gluten free products – including bread and biscuits – on prescription.

But in December 2017 members of the Herts Valleys CCG Board agreed that increased availability of gluten free products – as well as naturally gluten-free foods – made it easier for patients to purchase the products themselves.

Since then patients – even those that currently receive free prescriptions – have been expected to purchase their own supplies of gluten-free foods.

And on Thursday (May 10) the Herts Valleys CCG Board agreed to continue with their approach.

The CCG  estimate the change in policy will save £50,000 in 2018-19.

Patients with learning disabilities, who do not have a carer to manage their gluten free diet – or where there are safeguarding issues – are exempt from the restriction.

However their entitlement is restricted to eight units a month, which is the equivalent of eight small loaves of bread or four 500g bags of pasta.

Since December, the Department of Health has release their own consultation outcome on gluten free foods, which does allow for the prescription of some gluten free bread and flour mixes.

But the CCG’s Medicines Optimisation Clinical Leads group have reviewed their local policy and concluded that no change is required.

Last summer the CCG conducted a public consultation on the policy change. They report that 77 per cent of the 2330 respondents agreed with the change in policy.

Coeliac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten. And once diagnosed it is treated by following a gluten-free diet for life.