Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) Place Director for Halton, which informed of the proposals to commence consultation on the cessation of NHS Funded Gluten Free Prescribing across Cheshire and Merseyside.

It was noted that the ICB had a duty to engage with Local Authority Health and Overview Scrutiny Boards, so that confirmation could be sought as to whether the Scrutiny Boards believed that the proposal was a substantial development or variation (SDV) to NHS services.  If this was confirmed by the Board, then the requirement for the ICB to formally consult with the Board would be triggered.

Members were referred to Appendices one and two – Gluten Free prescribing paper to the Board of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICS (28 November 2024); and Cheshire and Merseyside Protocol for the establishment of Joint Health Scrutiny Arrangements in Cheshire and Merseyside. 

Members discussed the proposals and after taking into consideration the fact that Halton was a deprived Borough; 141 patients were accessing the prescriptions; the demographics of this group of patients was unknown; and coeliac disease was a medical condition; it was agreed that the proposal to cease NHS funded gluten free prescribing represented a substantial variation.

The Healthwatch Co-optee requested the consultation to be available in other formats other than online, this would be addressed.  It was also noted that all stakeholders that wished to be included in the consultation would be.

RESOLVED:  That the Board confirms that the proposal to cease NHS funded gluten free prescribing represents a substantial development or variation.