Key Points
- Ealing Central and Acton MP Dr Rupa Huq has raised concerns with government ministers about support for people with coeliac disease.
- Campaigners say a growing postcode lottery in England means some patients have lost or had gluten-free prescriptions restricted after responsibility moved to Integrated Care Boards.
- Coeliac disease affects around one in 100 people in the UK, and the only effective long-term treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.
- Research cited by Coeliac UK says a gluten-free weekly shop costs about 35% more than a standard one, while the cheapest gluten-free loaf can cost around six times more than a regular loaf.
- Campaigners argue people in England are now receiving less support than those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Dr Huq raised the issue at a parliamentary event on 23 June 2026 organised with Coeliac UK, where MPs, patients and medical professionals discussed rising food costs and cuts to gluten-free prescriptions.
- Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson attended the event.
Ealing (West London News) July 8, 2026, after raising concerns with ministers about the uneven support available to people with coeliac disease in England.
What did Dr Rupa Huq say about the issue?
As reported by Ealing News, Dr Huq said:
“We face a cost of living crisis which is exacerbated for the sufferers of coeliac disease, who are paying over the odds; often six times the cost of standard gluten-containing fare. There are also glaring inequalities in how this is dealt with within the British Isles.”
The warning came after she attended a parliamentary event on 23 June 2026 organised with Coeliac UK. According to the report, MPs, patients and medical professionals used the meeting to highlight how rising food prices and prescription cuts were affecting people with coeliac disease. Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson was among the attendees.
Why are campaigners calling it a postcode lottery?
Campaigners say the issue has intensified since responsibility for prescribing gluten-free foods passed to Integrated Care Boards in England.
They argue that around two-thirds of people with coeliac disease in England now live in areas where prescriptions have either been restricted or stopped altogether.
Coeliac UK says prescribing rules vary across the UK and even within England, depending on local decisions. Its guidance states that some English areas limit gluten-free prescriptions to certain products or specific groups, while in others they have been withdrawn entirely or offered only on a case-by-case basis.
By contrast, Coeliac UK says people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can access gluten-free staple products under national prescribing guidelines, although the delivery systems differ.
How much more expensive is gluten-free food?
The report says Coeliac UK found a gluten-free weekly shop costs around 35% more than a standard one. It also says the cheapest gluten-free loaf of bread costs about six times more than its gluten-containing equivalent.
A separate BBC report published in May 2026 gave similar examples of the price gap, including gluten-free bread, pasta and biscuits costing substantially more than regular versions.
That report also quoted Coeliac UK’s Hilary Croft as saying gluten-free groceries are on average 35% more expensive than gluten-containing products.
How does the NHS prescribing system work?
Coeliac UK says that in England, gluten-free prescriptions are now limited in many areas and can vary according to local Integrated Care Board policies.
The organisation says GP-led prescribing remains available in some eligible areas, but local restrictions may apply depending on age or other factors.
The charity also says Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate under different arrangements, with some patients able to access bread, flour and pasta through national or locally supported schemes.
In Wales, a subsidy card system is being rolled out to give eligible patients greater choice and freedom when buying gluten-free food.
What is the wider political context?
The issue comes amid continued debate over the affordability of gluten-free food for people diagnosed with coeliac disease.
Coeliac UK says the condition affects around one in 100 people in the UK, making it a significant public health issue rather than a niche concern.
The parliamentary event where Dr Huq raised the matter indicates that pressure is building on ministers to address local variation in support.
The report does not say whether the Government has committed to changing policy in England, but it does show that campaigners are pushing for more consistent provision.
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Background of the development
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which eating gluten triggers damage to the small intestine, and the only effective treatment is to follow a strict gluten-free diet for life.
Because gluten-free basics often cost much more than standard products, patients have long argued that prescriptions help protect both health and household budgets.
Over time, prescribing in England has become more fragmented as local health bodies gained control over decisions.
That has created the current debate over whether patients in different parts of the country are receiving fair and equal support.
What could this mean for patients?
For people with coeliac disease, the immediate effect is likely to be financial pressure, especially for households already facing higher food bills.
If prescriptions remain restricted in many English areas, patients may need to spend more on staple foods such as bread, pasta and flour mixes.
The situation could also deepen health inequalities if people struggle to afford a strict gluten-free diet consistently.
For the wider audience, particularly patients and carers in England, the debate may influence future NHS support, local prescribing rules and access to subsidised gluten-free food.
