NHS 'paid ?17 for gluten-free pizza base'

[Northerner]

Two prescription gluten-free pizza bases can cost the NHS as much as ?34, BBC Newsnight has learned.

The NHS spent ?27m on gluten-free prescriptions in 2011, but handling and delivery charges, which can quadruple the cost, are not recorded.

Some NHS trusts are reviewing the gluten-free prescription system, but it remains unchallenged in others.

Without prescriptions, health campaigners argue, sufferers can go on to develop serious illnesses.

Gluten-free bread, cake mixes and bourbon biscuits are also available to people with coeliac disease, triggered by gluten intolerance.

In an example from Rotherham, it was discovered that the NHS had been paying four times the original price for pizza bases.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17755552

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Would be cheaper to send the patients on a cookery course so they learnt how to cook gluten free proper grub. Suspect main problem is being far to lazey to go to the shops and buy the gluten free ingredients and then actually combine and cook.

More fool the NHS trusts as well for even considering paying those hiked prices for a product 😡

 

[Northerner]

Interesting what Lansley says:

"The aim of providing gluten-free food products on NHS prescription is to encourage patients with coeliac disease to stick to a gluten-free, nutritious diet so they do not go on to develop more serious illnesses, which can affect their quality of life as well as being much more costly for the NHS," he said in a statement.

Would the same logic not apply to people with Type 2 who need test strips to help them manage their diabetes? 🙄

It seems from what they say companies are exploiting the fact that the products are supplied on prescription and slapping on extortionate extra charges

I presume they mean the report will be on Newsnight when they say tonight at 22:30 (I know you don't have a telly Sue!)