A CHARITY is warning how proposed cuts to prescriptions of gluten-free foods in Bradford could cost the NHS more in the long run.

Coeliac UK, which has group in the city, is strongly opposing cuts proposed by Bradford City and Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to help save £13m from their 2016/17 budgets.

The charity claims vulnerable patients could be left without support and their ability to stick to a gluten-free diet could be affected. That could lead to health problems including osteoporosis, infertility and, in some rare cases, small bowel cancer, which Coeliac UK says could cost the NHS a lot more in the long term.

Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition caused by a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

The chief executive of the charity, Sarah Sleet, said the proposal to remove gluten-free prescription services for everyone with coeliac disease was "being based on budgets rather than patient need or clinical evidence.

"The provision of gluten-free staple food on prescription is a vital element of the support offered to all patients by the NHS and it is essential to prevent long term damage to health," she added.

"Simple switching to alternative carbs such as rice and potatoes risks malnutrition with bread alone providing between ten and 20 per cent of our most important nutrients such as protein, calcium and iron but potatoes and rice only providing a fraction of this.”

The charity is also dismissing claims by the CCGs that the range and availability of gluten free products has increased dramatically in supermarkets.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates the cost of gluten-free food to the NHS is £194.24 per diagnosed patient per year, which makes it an extremely low cost treatment, says the charity.

Last year, Bradford City and Bradford Districts CCGs combined spent £320,000 on gluten-free foods.

The CCGs present their proposals to Bradford Council’s Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee today.

Consultation about whether to continue to prescribe gluten-free foods runs until September 30 online and through public events.

“The charity would like to encourage any coeliac patients across Bradford to complete the questionnaire so that their opinions are heard,” said Ms Sleet.

Dr Sohail Abbas, clinical lead for prescribing at NHS Bradford City CCG, said: “We are facing some tough challenges in the months ahead to improve service quality while bringing about essential financial savings in the local NHS.

“Currently the Bradford CCGs spends £320,000 each year on gluten-free food on prescription. Although these have historically been prescribed, gluten-free foods are not medicines and in the recent past have become widely available from supermarkets and online.

“While the cost of gluten-free products is free for the patient if they are exempt from prescription charges, this still has to be paid for by taxes; and the cost to the NHS of a loaf of bread on prescription is much higher than bought over the counter.

"Basic gluten free flours and pre-prepared products are all available and the cost of these products has come down considerably over the past few years. We fully accept that gluten-free foods are more expensive than normal bread and pasta, but this only accounts for a limited amount of someone’s food budget.

“Lots of foods are naturally gluten-free and people can live a perfectly healthy life without the need to eat any gluten related products.

“This is not a pleasant or easy decision to consider, but we need to balance the health and wellbeing of the affected patients with the need for the CCG to share its resources equitably across our whole population.

“There are many ways to take part in our consultation, and we’re also holding public meetings, the link to the online survey is: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/gluten-free-prescribing or people can ask their GP practice for a consultation leaflet.

A series of public events are also being held.

Comparison costs for gluten-free foods:

  • NHS average costs: 500g pasta: £6.45; 400g white sliced loaf: £3.25 + 90p dispensing charge for every item on a prescription
  • Tesco costs: 500g Free From pasta: £1.20; 400g Free From sliced white loaf: £1.50