THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National launch of gluten-free food service

A service developed in NHS Tayside which provides coeliac patients with better access to gluten-free foods, has been fully rolled out across Scotland.

Coeliac patients and those with a clinical need for gluten-free food will now be able to get their prescriptions directly from their local pharmacy, rather than needing to go to their GP. This is more convenient to patients and saves valuable GP time.

A national Gluten-Free Food Service will be permanently introduced following a review of the 18-month trial which received overwhelming support from patients, pharmacists and GPs.

The service allows eligible patients to register with a community pharmacy of their choice and collect their prescriptions for gluten free food directly, rather than having to request individual prescriptions from their GP.

Previously, GPs provided prescriptions for gluten-free foods and patients had to rely on visiting or contacting their GP practices to alter their prescriptions for staple gluten-free food items such as bread and pasta. In some cases, this system made it difficult for patients to self-manage and alter their prescription of gluten-free food, which reduced their food choice and made it difficult for them to adhere to their diet, the only treatment for coeliac disease. From the GP perspective, valuable clinic and administration time was spent altering basic gluten-free food items for patients.

Following consultation with local patients and the patient support group, Coeliac UK Tayside, the Tayside Nutrition Managed Clinical Network led a redesign of the entire coeliac disease patient pathway.

One of the most significant changes made was to move gluten-free prescribing out of GP practices and into the hands of patients and community pharmacies. The service allows patients to choose items of foods from a local Tayside gluten-free food list up to an agreed maximum gluten-free food allocation each month. The allocation is designed to meet individual nutritional needs and is based on Coeliac UK recommendations. The local community pharmacy then processes the food order for the patient.

An online version of the service was also developed in Tayside making it even easier for patients to order their gluten-free food with their community pharmacy. The online version was designed to help those with reading and counting difficulties and for those who prefer electronic systems. The online version is being altered for Scotland-wide patient use and should roll out to other areas later this year.

Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction of the immune system to gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging the lining of the small intestine. There is also a related condition called dermatitis herpetiformis where the body reacts to gluten by causing a blistering of the skin. The treatment for both is a life-long gluten-free diet. Symptoms for coeliac disease range from mild to severe and can include bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, wind, constipation, tiredness, headaches, mouth ulcers, sudden weight loss, hair loss and faltering growth or delayed puberty in children.

Coeliac disease is known to affect 1% of the population although only around 10-15% of people are diagnosed. Once diagnosed, ensuring patients have adequate information, support and access to gluten-free food is essential.

Tayside Nutrition Managed Clinical Network Improvement and Development Manager Jacqueline Walker said, “As a dietician, the most important feedback from patients has been that the Gluten-free Food Service has improved their lives, given them more control and has allowed them to stick to and enjoy their gluten-free diet more.”

For more information on the Tayside Gluten-Free Food Scheme visit www.taysidenutrition.scot.nhs.uk.

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138