A DECISION to stop prescribing certain foods for patients with specific dietary requirements has been defended by health bosses in North Yorkshire.

Doctor David Geddes, medical director at NHS North Yorkshire and York said it was “right and proper” the NHS supported access to basic foodstuffs for people such as coeliacs, but said the trust could no longer prescribe specialist luxury foods such as cakes and biscuits.

His comments come after long-term coeliac patient, Kay Laverack, 58, contacted The Press after being told the trust would no-longer prescribe food containing sugar to those with coeliac disease.

Mrs Laverack, from Heworth, said: “My diet is severely restricted – no normal bread, cakes, pastry, pizza, pasta, biscuits etc allowed. There are gluten-free alternatives, but they are more expensive than normal products, and there are a number of basic gluten-free items that are available on prescription.

“However, I have just received a letter from my doctor informing me that NHS North Yorkshire and York, following guidance from NICE, wish to ration the amount available and, more importantly, to completely ban anything with sugar in it.

“As if we don’t have enough restrictions on our diet as it is.”

Dr Geddes said the trust was working hard with GPs to identify areas where much-needed cost cuts could be made.

He said: “One such area that will yield a significant cost saving for the NHS is rationalising the number of prescriptions that are written for items that are readily available to the general public either as over the counter medicines in pharmacies or off the shelves in our supermarkets.

“Patients can now choose to buy from a wide range of luxury food items including cakes and biscuits; however as these food items do not contribute to an overall healthy diet, they cannot be considered to be the best use of limited NHS resources.”