Nhs Funding Review For Gluten-Free Food

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39413915

This is about NHS England, although I am guessing that its the same here in Wales.

I am not sure about gluten-free, but I can't understand why things like paracetamol are available on prescription in the first place. It can be obtained very cheaply pretty well anywhere and only cost a few pence for a packet.

I am big fan of the NHS but surely this is an area where it could be saving some money ?

EDIT: I've created a poll on this subject over here - AB Editor

[anotheoldgit]

This from the Daily Mail report:

/// Once that stage is finished, officials will launch a second consultation looking at other items including paracetamol, cough and cold remedies, hayfever pills, travel sickness tablets and suncream. ///

"Once that stage is finished, officials will launch a second consultation" ?????????????

Why a second consultation, those items should never have been supplied on the NHS, or at least they should have been on the first consultation.

[AB Editor]

It is interesting, I was unaware of gluten-free-on-the-NHS sort of stuff, and my gut (ha!) reaction is to suggest that the NHS shouldn't have to look after people's diets as well as their ailments.

But then, maybe that is short sighted. Maybe by providing gluten-free flour to someone suffering with celiac disease helps them avoid another trip to hospital at a different time?

As I am not eligible for free prescriptions, when I do get one there's usually a moment at the pharmacy where they check that it's not cheaper to pay for it directly.

[ummmm]

Is gluten free food much more expensive?

[ummmm]

ED - my nephew has PKU and gets lots of his food on prescription for the simple fact it's so expensive to buy.

[bhg481]

Someone on another site (Daily Mail possibly?) made the comment that he is on 8 paracetamol a day on prescription. You are only allowed to buy 32 tablets at a time, whereas his GP gives him 500. Without prescription he will have to go to the shops every 4 days; the nearest shop is 10 miles away and he has mobility problems. My initial reaction to the review was "Not before time" but cases like his need very careful consideration. Perhaps being given a prescription which allowed you to buy more than the usual legal quantity but at your own expense.

[Togo]

A link to Umm's post.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Phenylketonuria/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[vulcan42]

ummmm, yes it is, usually double and often treble the price of normal food. Unfortunately it has no taste either, I once tried a gluten free pizza and to be honest it would have been better to throw the pizza away and eat the cardboard container. I buy all my gluten free food by the way.

[Sqad]

PKA is an inborn error of metabolism and certainly patients should be given help with the treatment and management.
But why should they get it free...couldn't they repay the NHS just 10% of the cost?
Also why should these patients get free drugs for conditions unrelated to PKA.

[AB Editor]

Hi Mikey, I've popped a little poll up over in B&S on the subject for everyone: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question1545314.html

[Togo]

A price guide for Gluten free products. This is Asda's price list. When Gluten free product first hit the shelves they were expensive, now prices are in line with standard products so should not be prescription items.
https://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/shelves/Gluten_Free_in_Asda.html

[AB Editor]

bhg481, Umm, interesting points on corner cases that often get overlooked in these discussions.

I see why Sqad thinks a kind of levy would be better. Especially on dietary stuff.

[sunny-dave]

bhg - someone is being economical with the truth.

You can buy 100 paracetamol at a time **from a pharmacy**

Unless there is only one pharmacy in the person's town, a single trip could generate 300/400/500 tablets by visiting more than one pharmacy. Add in a spouse/partner and it could easily be 1000 per trip.

But it is easier to have the GP sign & the pharmacist deliver ...

[bhg481]

I can't comment on that, Dave, as I don't use paracetamol. I use aspirin and you can only buy 32 of those at a time, so I assumed paracetamol had a similar limit.

[ummmm]

He gets everyday food like bread mix (which they have to make themselves) and protein substitutes because the body does need protein. They are not available on the shelf's of supermarkets.

PKU is a diet for life...and a very expensive diet.

Unbelievably not all counties test for it at birth.

[emmie]

i was very surprised to find that gluten free items were available on the NHS. The matter was discussed on the Matthew Wright show this morning.
Several callers with coalic sorry if that not the correct spelling, called in and one said that a loaf of bread that in asda costing a pound, the gluten free one was 4 quid, so a massive difference in price.
perhaps those who have this problem could be means tested?
as some might not have enough money to pay for these items.

[emmie]

Coeliac Disease - that should be.

[Togo]

Asda white or brown sliced free from loaf. £1.50

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-compare-prices/Speciality_Breads/ASDA_Free_From_White_Sliced_Loaf_400g.html?TrackingCode=1421.Q28g0ga6P0GMEWBNcGqAYQ

[Samjenko]

NHS loaf- £40.

[youngmafbog]

if the NHS is going to survive it has to return to basic health only procedures and drugs only. That means no more boob jobs (unless due to cancer etc) and no more over the counter drugs.

Then they should start on weeding out the rubbish management and restructure so there is a minimal management structure and more front line staff.

But no Government have the *** to do this as everytime anyone tries there are howls of privatization, Tory cuts blah blah blah.

[Samjenko]

'Really Samjenko how does that work if it is prescription medicine?'

Really, Islay, or I wouldn't have flipping said it.
I put medicine in inverted commas because it was one of those things that you don't need but millions of women take. Possibly anti-depressants, can't remember, I'll ask her next time I see her.
Happy? ;-)