Prescribing GlutenFree Foods

Patient Information Leaflet

How will I obtain other items?

All the supermarkets now stock a good range of gluten

free food. This range is constantly improving and

patients are encouraged to purchase any other gluten

free foods that they require.

Please discuss any questions with your GP practice.

A copy of the NHS Wirral Prescribing Policy for Gluten

Free Foods is available from the Medicines

Management Team on 0151 643 5338.

How can I have fresh bread?

Fresh gluten free bread can be purchased at

supermarkets. It does not always freeze well so it is best

to buy one loaf at a time.

If possible, consider purchasing a bread making

machine as these are relatively cheap to buy and you

can obtain bread mix on prescription. The benefit of this

is that you will have access to fresh bread at all times.

Bread making machines are available from a range of

shops and start at around £30. They should all be

suitable for baking gluten free bread. It only takes

about 5 minutes to prepare the ingredients for a loaf.

Further information about gluten free food is available

from Coeliac UK through their website, helpline and local

branch. You can also get advice from your dietician. There

is a dietician-led coeliac clinic at Wirral University Teaching

Hospital.

Certain gluten free foods are available

on prescription for all patients who are

diagnosed with Coeliac Disease or

another gluten enteropathy (disease of

the intestinal tract).

The symptoms of Coeliac Disease are

kept under control by eating a strict

gluten free diet.

This leaflet explains the changes to the

prescribing process on the Wirral.

Patient Information Leaflet

Patients who have Coeliac Disease or

other gluten enteropathy diagnosed by a

specialist can be prescribed the number

of units recommended by Coeliac UK

every month. The number of units each

month is shown in the table opposite:

Naturally gluten free foods• Most dairy products eg. cheese, butter, milk and eggs

• Fruit and vegetables

• Meat and fish (although not breaded or marinated)

• Potatoes

• Rice

• Flours made from rice, corn, soy, chickpeas (gram flour),

buckwheat and potato

• Crackers made from rice or corn

• Other grains such as millet, quinoa and buckwheat

You may find that if you enjoy the foods in the list above,

you may not need the recommended quantities of gluten

free food on prescription.

Men Women Children

Aged 19-59 18 units Aged 19-74 14 units Aged 1-3 10 units

Aged 60-74 16 units Aged 75+ 12 units Aged 4-6 11 units

Aged 75+ 14 units Breastfeeding 18 units Aged 7-10 13 units

Pregnancy 15 units Aged 11-14 15 units

Aged 16-18 18 units

Types of gluten free food availableon prescription and unit values• Part-baked bread loaves - a 400g loaf = 1 unit

• Flour, bread mix or flour mix - 500g = 2 units

• Pasta - 500g = 2 units

• Crackers or crispbreads - 200g = 1 unit

NB Fresh bread is very expensive to prescribe due to the high

delivery charges to the pharmacy so the Wirral Policy is that

this should not be prescribed. Also, cakes, cake mix and

biscuits should not be prescribed.

Prescribing Gluten Free Foods

What does the policy mean for me?

A local review of the prescribing of gluten free foods has been

carried out. This process showed that patients did not have

equal access to gluten free food. The Wirral Policy tells you the

quantity of food available on prescription each month and the

types of foods available on prescription.

Why has the process changed?

Certain items that are no longer available on

prescription will have to be bought normally

from a supermarket. The policy also states

that the most expensive brands should not

be available on prescription.