Vol. 395 No. 6
181 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Southern Health Board has removed the benefit of special bread and biscuits for coeliac children for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Early in 1988 a review of the range of food items available on the GMS was carried out by a group established by the GMS (Payments) Board.
The group examined the range of food products available on the GMS taking clinical importance, usage, and retail price, into account. The group recommended the removal from the GMS of a number of items which could not be considered to form a basic and essential part of patient diet. Therefore, gluten-free biscuits and crackers, and a number of pasta products, among others, were removed from general availability on the GMS list. Gluten-free brown and white bread and bread mixes remain available on the GMS as do gluten-free flour, bran and baking powder.
The products removed are low cost items, readily available in supermarkets and retail pharmacies. Health boards do, of course, provide financial assistance towards the cost of requisites which are not available on the GMS scheme, if there is genuine financial hardship being incurred in their purchase. Anyone who considers that the purchase of these items is causing them hardship should contact their local health board to make application for assistance.
