10 April 2025

The NHS in Lincolnshire is asking people for their views about stopping or limiting gluten free products on prescription in the area.  

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched an eight-week public consultation and is keen to understand the impact of the proposed changes on patients and their families before any decisions are made.  
 
Currently, gluten free bread and flour are available on prescription to patients diagnosed with coeliac disease. The ICB is looking to stop prescribing or limit the prescribing of gluten free bread and flour to people who would not be clinically safe without these items on prescription. Prescriptions for gluten free products are taken up by approximately 800 people across Lincolnshire and this could have a huge impact on these people, with cost of gluten free bread being more four times higher gluten containing equivalents. 
 
The public consultation, which closes on 13 May 2025, will inform future decisions made by the ICB as to whether it should continue to prescribe gluten free products. 
 
Have your say 
 
Coeliac UK strongly opposes this proposal and we will be responding to the consultation in due course. We are concerned about the impact it will have on the community and would encourage anyone living in the area to share their views through the consultation survey here. The public consultation launch coincided with our petition submission to the UK government, urging the protection of NHS prescription support for those with coeliac disease, which gathered over 22,000 signatures. We are hopeful to collaborate with government officials to drive much needed change. 
 
Paper copies of the questionnaire can also be requested by emailing: licb.involveus@nhs.net or by mobile: 07811 701278. 
 
Read more about why gluten free prescriptions matter here