Let them eat rice cake

THE four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Berkshire West have reviewed what medicines are available on prescription and have made some changes. Dr Abid Irfan, GP Chair of the Berkshire West Federation said: “These changes could save the up to £1.8 million a year, which could be spent on other NHS services to benefit more patients.”

To standardise prescribing across Berkshire

West, the CCGs have agreed that GPs should stop prescribing medicines, such as painkillers, cold remedies, vitamins, and sunscreen, which are available over the counter.

National Voices criticised the plan saying that it would break with the guiding principle that the NHS should be free at the point of use.

Likewise, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society raised concerns about how the move might affect the poorest families.

Yet our research shows people recognise the huge pressure the NHS is under at the moment, that they are open to things changing and they want to do their bit to help.

There is a second strand of this decision that will affect one in every 100 people – those living with Coeliac Disease, an autoimmune condition which means that if you eat gluten – which is found in wheat, rye or barley, and many common foods – your body starts to attack itself.

There is no cure for this lifelong condition, and the only option is to eat a gluten-free diet.

The local commissioners have decided to stop prescribing gluten free products on prescription, saying that there are a range of gluten free products available in high street supermarkets and that people can easily avoid gluten by eating things like

‘rice cakes’.

Similar words were not very comforting for

18th Century French peasants and neither are they likely to bring much relief for parents living on the bread line – no pun intended – trying desperately to get a child with coeliac disease to eat.

Gluten-free spaghetti in my local Sainsbury’s is £1.35, whereas basic spaghetti is just 40p.

A gluten-free loaf of bread can be as much as £3 and is often much smaller than a normal one.

People need appropriate and affordable options or they just won’t be able to take care of themselves.

Healthwatch believes there may be an element of false economy here.

We have asked Wokingham Clinical

Commissioning Group about the potential long term health impact on those with Coeliac Disease not able to afford to buy Gluten Free products.

This short-sighted move, which is only making minimal savings, could lead to further stress on NHS budgets when people develop complications and related diseases. I recognise the need to make savings but, like many current policies, this will hit the people who can least afford it the hardest.

Healthwatch has also encouraged the CCG to better communicate decisions to patients. I hope NHS England and local commissioners will seek to shed more light on this in order for people to be informed and involved in managing their own health needs and long term conditions.

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