Consultation outcome

Availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Detail of outcome

Following its consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription, the government has decided to restrict gluten-free prescribing to bread and mixes only. The majority of consultation responses were in favour of this.

The formal response document and accompanying impact assessment and equalities impact assessment provide the full rationale for our decision.


Original consultation

Summary

We are seeking views on proposals on whether to make changes to the availability of gluten-free foods that are prescribed on the NHS.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

Gluten-free (GF) foods are available on prescription to patients diagnosed with gluten sensitivity, and have been since the late 1960s when their availability was extremely limited.

A wide range of GF foods is now readily available in supermarkets and other food outlets, meaning that the ability of patients to obtain these foods without a prescription has greatly increased.

Our consultation proposes options for restricting the availability of GF products on NHS prescription. We would value your views to help inform our work.

Documents

Impact assessment

Updates to this page

Published 31 March 2017
Last updated 1 February 2018 + show all updates
  1. Page updated with consultation outcome, impact assessment and equality impact assessment.

  2. First published.

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