If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.
Changing to a gluten free diet after you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease can be challenging and expensive. Appropriate foods, such as gluten free brown bread, often cost considerably more than their gluten-containing counterparts. That’s why in some areas, you are able to get gluten free foods on prescription to help you to adhere to your gluten free diet.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at gluten free food on prescription, including:
The Essential Requirement: A Formal Coeliac Disease Diagnosis
To be eligible for gluten free food on prescription, you need a formal diagnosis of coeliac disease (or dermatitis herpetiformis) from your GP. This will involve a blood test and usually a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Age and Location: Does it Make a Difference?
It is important to understand that being eligible for gluten free food on prescription does not automatically mean you will get it. In England, availability varies significantly between different Integrated Care Boards, as we will discuss in detail below. Your age and sex will determine how much gluten-free food you can receive on prescription.
Your Initial Consultation with Your GP or Dietitian
The first step in getting foods such as gluten free brown bread on prescription is to speak to your GP or dietitian. They will explain what is available in your area and how much you are entitled to.
Understanding Your Monthly ‘Units’ Allowance
Your prescription is allocated as units of gluten free food. The number of units depends on your age, sex and other factors. Coeliac UK’s National Prescribing Guidelines recommend 18 units for a male aged 19-59, but only 14 units for a male over 75. Women aged 19-74 are recommended 14 units, with an additional 4 units if breastfeeding and one unit if they are in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Placing Your Order with the Pharmacy
Once you have been given a prescription and allocated your units, it is up to you to decide how to use them, choosing from the foods available in your area. You can get a free taster box of gluten free foods from Glutafin to help you decide what you might like to request. You can then make an appointment with your doctor who will write you a prescription, which you can collect at your local pharmacy.
This varies across the home nations. In England, you can only get gluten free white bread, gluten free seeded bread and gluten free brown bread on prescription, along with gluten free bread rolls and gluten free flour and flour mixes. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can get additional gluten free foods, including pasta, pizza bases, crackers, sweet biscuits and breakfast cereals.
Gluten free foods on prescription are universally available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; however, availability varies significantly across England.
Prescription guidelines in England: what you need to know
Availability is decided by local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and is often influenced by budget considerations. Some ICBs offer the full recommended allowance of units, while others do not provide gluten free food on prescription at all. To find out what is available in your area, you can use the postcode search on the Glutafin website.
Gluten free food on prescription carries the same charges as any other prescription in England, with a cost per item. An ‘item’ is classed as a type of food, so if you use all your units to order gluten free brown bread on prescription, you will only pay a single charge. If you mix bread and flour, you will pay two prescription charges, and so on.
Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Standard Prescription Charges vs Prepayment Certificates
The current NHS prescription charge is £9.90 per item. However, you can obtain a pre-payment certificate for 3 months at £32.05 or a 12-month certificate for £114.50 (payable in 10 instalments of £11.45). These certificates cover your gluten free prescription and all other medications you need. With a prepayment certificate, you can mix and match your gluten free foods without worrying about the number of items.
Who is Exempt from Prescription Charges?
You will be exempt from prescription charges if you are over 60, under 16 (or under 18 in full-time education) or if you are in receipt of certain benefits. Prescriptions are also free if you are pregnant, have had a baby in the last 12months or have certain medical conditions.
Accessing foods such as gluten free brown bread on prescription can make a real difference to your gluten free diet, and to your budget too. If you have a formal diagnosis of coeliac disease, talk to your GP or dietitian to find out what is available in your area.
Remember, if you have any questions about gluten free food on prescription, email the Glutafin team at glutenfree@glutafin.co.uk
If you or someone you love has been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease, you could be eligible to receive gluten free foods on prescription. Simply select your country of residence, and, if you live in England, fill in your postcode to check if your area is prescribing.
Your country is prescribing gluten free foods*. Request your Glutafin Taster Box by clicking the button below to sign up.
* Please note: local policies are constantly updated, and issuing a prescription is at the discretion of your GP.