Westminster Parliament debates coeliac disease
Wednesday 21st February saw an Adjournment Debate at the House of Commons addressing, for the first time, the issue of coeliac disease.
The debate served well to raise awareness amongst ministers and MPs. Initiated by Gordon Banks, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, the debate included four other MPs who spoke in support: Andy Reed for Loughborough, Paul Truswell for Pudsey, Tim Boswell for Daventry and Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham.
The reply from the Minister was very supportive. She paid tribute to the work of the Charity on raising awareness and providing help to people with the disease.
On the subject of prescriptions, she supported gluten-free prescribing and said
"We fully expect GPs who prescribe gluten-free products to assess the dietary requirements of individual patients, taking into account not only their nutritional requirements but their lifestyle and needs. She went on to say "…Coeliac UK has done a lot of work with PCTs…to highlight some of the problems which has had an effect on local decisions. We certainly expect the provision of food items to be based on individual need, not on a preconceived idea of what someone ought to receive."
The Charity is extremely grateful to all the MPs who have helped and supported us in this area. They have played an invaluable part in raising awareness of coeliac disease.
