People in south Bucks who receive gluten-free food on prescription could see the amount they get dramatically reduced if new proposals come into effect.

The Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) is reviewing its guidance for the prescription of Gluten-free products and food to patients, and want to hear people’s views before making a decision.

The CCG's early plans to reduce the quantity available on prescription comes after concerns the current prescription method is outdated, with many more gluten-free products readily available than when the guidelines were drawn up.

And there have been concerns nationally that unhealthy foods like cake and pizza have been provided to people under the NHS prescription.

In 2014/2015, £209,000 was spent to provide gluten-free products to sufferers across the county.

Current Bucks guidelines allow coeliacs between 10 and 18 units of prescribed gluten-free food each month; the precise amount is dependent on age and gender.

The CCG is proposing a reducing of this amount to eight units a month.

Dr Raj Bajwa, the Clinical Commissioning Director for Chiltern CCG has said “There is now far greater availability of gluten free foods than when allowances for food on prescription were initially set.

"Also there has been a lot of publicity recently regarding gluten free prescriptions been given for food which is regarded as unhealthy choices.”

“In Chiltern we are therefore consulting about reducing the current range of products and the quantity that can be prescribed each month.”

However, despite reduction proposals, the group said it wanted to ensure that people still have access to the staple diet they need.

Dr Bajwa added: “We do not want to deprive people with proven coeliac disease of the basics. We have already consulted widely amongst health professionals and now would like to hear public opinion.”

Coeliac disease is a digestive condition which causes someone to have an adverse reaction to gluten, which is found in any food containing wheat, barley or rye such as bread, pasta and cakes.

Although there is no known cure, maintaining a gluten-free diet can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term consequences of the disease. According to NHS figures, around 1 in every 100 people suffer from the disease.

If you suffer from coeliac disease or just want to have your say on the proposals, visit Let’s Talk Health Bucks, a public forum.

A survey has also been set up on the site, which will remain open throughout September www.letstalkhealthbucks.nhs.uk/consult.ti/Gluten_free/consultationHome.