Controversial plans to stop prescribing gluten-free foods have been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

It was revealed last year that Buckinghamshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was looking at plans to stop providing gluten-free foods on the NHS.

The plan was branded "surprising and worrying" by Coeliac UK, a national charity based in Desborough Road, High Wycombe - but the CCG decided to go ahead with it anyway in March.

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Only gluten free bread, bread mixes and flour mixes would be available on prescription for those who meet the exceptional criteria of "dietary neglect".

However, they have now decided to postpone the plan to stop prescriptions for gluten-free food during the coronavirus pandemic, because those with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis are vulnerable and more at risk of dietary neglect.

The CCG said it recognises the "additional challenges" patients could be facing because of government guidelines to stay at home - including shopping for gluten free foods, accessing deliveries and self-isolation.

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Examples of vulnerable patients who may be at risk of dietary neglect may include those with safeguarding concerns or presenting with malnutrition.

The decision to postpone the plans will be reviewed again in August 2020 and then on a monthly basis until they can be properly implemented.

In August, the CCG will be sharing their plans with patients, GPs, dietitians, pharmacies and others, including Coeliac UK.

The NHS spent £111,000 on gluten-free foods for people in the county last year.

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In October last year, chief executive of Coeliac UK, Hilary Croft, said cuts to gluten-free prescriptions may leave some patients with coeliac disease without support, which will affect their ability to stick to the gluten free diet, which is the only medical treatment for the condition.

She feared it could lead to nutritional deficiencies and ongoing health issues as well as serious long term complications including osteoporosis.

Around 350 people in Bucks currently get gluten-free foods on prescription.