Using views and detailed comments provided by members of the public at themed events in 2015, along with data that has been collated through the implementation of a local gluten free product prescribing policy, the CCG has now developed and implemented a supermarket voucher pilot scheme with four supermarket retailers in the Vale of York.
Starting on the 1st February 2016 the pilot scheme will run for six months. For the period of the pilot 117 patients, both adult and children, received vouchers which can only be spent on gluten free products at their chosen supermarket, instead of receiving these on prescription.
The pilot scheme is allowing patients to choose how they spend their vouchers, giving them a greater choice of staple gluten free foods.
Feedback is crucial to assessment of the pilot scheme and patients are encouraged to give regular feedback to the CCG. There will be a mid-pilot drop-in session and online survey in April 2016 along with a final feedback session and wrap-up survey at the end of the pilot in August 2016.
The CCG is working closely with the York Coeliac Group and Coeliac UK in the development of the final survey. The four supermarket retailers taking part in the scheme are M&S, the Cooperative, Morrisons and Tullivers (an independent local health food shop in York). Other major retailers have expressed an interest in taking part.
For further information about the scheme please contact the project manager Julie Ryan on [email protected]