{"id":1517,"date":"2025-12-04T11:54:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/pages\/pharmacy-services\/national-pharmacy-services\/gluten-free-services\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T13:18:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T13:18:09","slug":"gluten-free-services","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/pages\/pharmacy-services\/national-pharmacy-services\/gluten-free-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Gluten Free Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Service specification <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the pharmacy sector, a gluten-free service refers to a structured program that allows patients with conditions like coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis to access gluten-free foods through community pharmacies as part of their NHS prescription. This service is particularly common in Scotland and some parts of the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What It Is<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A voluntary service offered by community pharmacies for patients who need to follow a strict gluten-free diet for medical reasons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It provides formulated gluten-free foods (such as bread and flour mixes) free of charge on prescription, helping patients maintain dietary compliance. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/care-support-and-rights\/nhs-services\/pharmacy\/gluten-free-food-service\">[nhsinform.scot]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How It Works<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Eligibility<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must have a confirmed diagnosis of coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be registered with a GP and live in an area where the service is available (e.g., Scotland). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/care-support-and-rights\/nhs-services\/pharmacy\/gluten-free-food-service\">[nhsinform.scot]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Registration<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Patients register for the service through their pharmacy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once registered, they can order gluten-free foods monthly without visiting a GP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ordering &amp; Allocation<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gluten-free foods are allocated in units (e.g., 1 unit = 400g bread).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patients can mix and match items within their monthly allowance based on age and gender. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glutafin.co.uk\/just-diagnosed-with-coeliac-disease\/your-prescription\/your-prescription-england\/\">[glutafin.co.uk]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Annual Health Check<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pharmacists conduct yearly reviews, checking weight, height, and dietary compliance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They adjust unit allocations if needed and refer patients to healthcare professionals for further support. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/care-support-and-rights\/nhs-services\/pharmacy\/gluten-free-food-service\">[nhsinform.scot]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Benefits<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduces GP workload.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gives patients more control and variety in their diet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improves adherence to gluten-free diets, preventing complications like osteoporosis and malnutrition. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/medicines-2\/medicines-optimisation\/prescribing-gluten-free-foods-in-primary-care-guidance-for-ccgs-faqs\/\">[england.nhs.uk]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional Role of Pharmacists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Medication Safety: Pharmacists also check for gluten in medicines and supplements, as some formulations may contain gluten or be cross-contaminated. This is crucial because accidental ingestion can cause symptoms and long-term harm in coeliac patients. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacist.com\/DesktopModules\/EasyDNNNews\/DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=0&amp;moduleid=1290&amp;articleid=1951&amp;documentid=462\">[pharmacist.com]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Official NHS &amp; UK Guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NHS Scotland \u2013 Gluten-free Food Service<br>Explains eligibility, registration, ordering process, and annual health checks for patients using community pharmacy services.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/care-support-and-rights\/nhs-services\/pharmacy\/gluten-free-food-service\">Read on NHS Inform<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/care-support-and-rights\/nhs-services\/pharmacy\/gluten-free-food-service\">[nhsinform.scot]<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Community Pharmacy Scotland \u2013 Service Details &amp; Support Tools<br>Includes key facts, patient leaflets, order forms, and pharmacist responsibilities.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cps.scot\/gluten-free-food-service\">Visit Community Pharmacy Scotland<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cps.scot\/gluten-free-food-service\">[cps.scot]<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coeliac UK \u2013 Prescriptions Information<br>Explains what gluten-free foods are available on prescription and regional differences.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coeliac.org.uk\/information-and-support\/coeliac-disease\/once-diagnosed\/prescriptions\/\">Read Coeliac UK Guidance<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coeliac.org.uk\/information-and-support\/coeliac-disease\/once-diagnosed\/prescriptions\/\">[coeliac.org.uk]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pharmacist Training &amp; Medication Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond Celiac \u2013 Education for Pharmacists<br>Focuses on gluten in medications and labeling issues.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondceliac.org\/research\/our-work\/gluten-in-meds\/\">Learn More<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondceliac.org\/research\/our-work\/gluten-in-meds\/\">[beyondceliac.org]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gluten in Medications: A Primer for Pharmacists<br>CE resource covering gluten-related disorders and medication risks.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacist.com\/DesktopModules\/EasyDNNNews\/DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=0\\&amp;moduleid=1290\\&amp;articleid=1951\\&amp;documentid=462\">Access Primer<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacist.com\/DesktopModules\/EasyDNNNews\/DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=0&amp;moduleid=1290&amp;articleid=1951&amp;documentid=462\">[pharmacist.com]<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gluten-Free Drugs Database<br>Maintained by a clinical pharmacist; lists gluten-free medications and excipients.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/theceliacscene.com\/gluten-free-drugs-pharmacist-patient\/\">Visit GlutenFreeDrugs.com<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/theceliacscene.com\/gluten-free-drugs-pharmacist-patient\/\">[theceliacscene.com]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Practical Tools<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Order Forms &amp; Formularies: Available via NHS Inform and local health boards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Annual Health Check Templates: Included in Community Pharmacy Scotland resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medication Checklists: Use <a href=\"https:\/\/theceliacscene.com\/gluten-free-drugs-pharmacist-patient\/\">GlutenFreeDrugs.com<\/a> for quick reference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"nhsuk-card__description\">Service specification In the pharmacy sector, a gluten-free service refers to a structured program that allows patients with conditions like [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":1483,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1517","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1517"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1814,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1517\/revisions\/1814"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk\/nhs-highland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}