Prescriptions
If your doctor has diagnosed you with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, you might be able to access gluten free staple foods on prescription.
If you live in an eligible area, your GP can write a prescription for gluten free staple food which you can collect from your pharmacist, just like getting medicine on prescription. In Scotland, the process is managed through your local pharmacy and in parts of Wales you may be able to access support in the form of a subsidy card. This recognises that a strict gluten free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease and is there to support you as the gluten free diet can be expensive and staple foods aren’t always easy to find in local shops.
Prescribing guidelines differ across the UK and within England so what you can access will depend on where you live.
Find out what’s available in your area
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Prescriptions policies across the UK
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of NHS services locally in England. Local Health Boards in Scotland and Wales, and Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland are responsible for local prescribing policies.
England
In England, gluten free prescriptions are limited to bread and flour mixes only and some local areas may restrict further. For example, your local area may limit what is available based on your age or other factors like pregnancy. In some places, it has been withdrawn altogether and is available only on a case by case basis.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, anyone with a diagnosis of coeliac disease can access gluten free staple products such as bread, flour and pasta in line with national prescribing guidelines. How this is provided differs between the nations though. For example, in Scotland prescriptions are delivered through your pharmacy as part of the Scottish Gluten Free Food Service while if you live in Hywel Dda health board, in Wales, there is a top up card scheme available. All other eligible areas use the GP led approach laid out above.
