Coeliac UK, PSNC and the NPA have launched a toolkit for NHS commissioners outlining the business case for reviewing how they supply gluten-free foods for patients with coeliac disease.

The toolkit gives guidance to PCTs and clinical commissioning groups on how they can improve the supply of gluten-free foods by use of the NHS repeat dispensing arrangements or by setting up a pharmacy-led supply scheme in their area. Such schemes allow gluten-free foods to be supplied directly from community pharmacies, thus minimising the workload for the GP practice. A review of existing schemes in Northamptonshire and Cumbria, show savings of between 20% to 40%. If this approach was applied nationally, there is the potential to save between £5m and £11m a year in England as well as freeing up GP time.