25-07-2025
NHS Wales Gluten-Free Card Scheme: Who is eligible?
The card is intended to give individuals with conditions such as coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis more freedom in selecting gluten-free products from supermarkets and online instead of relying only on a prescription.
This initiative, known as the National Gluten-Free Subsidy Card Scheme, is the first of its kind in the UK and offers an alternative way for patients to access essential dietary products.
Cabinet secretary for health and social care, Jeremy Miles, said: "For people living with coeliac disease, following a strict gluten-free diet is not a lifestyle choice but a medical necessity.
"We want to de-medicalise the supply of gluten-free foods in Wales, giving people more freedom to access the food they want to eat, more conveniently, to help them to manage their condition."
The card will also help reduce the workload on GPs and pharmacies, ensuring efficient use of NHS resources.
Eligible individuals will be given the choice between a traditional prescription or the new card, based on their needs.
The scheme has been tested across Hywel Dda University Health Board, with numerous success stories.
Cherylee Barker, part of the pilot scheme, has been using the card for six years.
She said: "I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2007 and quickly realised that maintaining a gluten-free diet would be costly, with limited shopping options and hit-and-miss food choices.
"I jumped at the chance to join the pilot. I could try new products without feeling financially stretched and take back control of my diet."
Dietician Alison Jones, who led the successful pilot, said: "From its use within Hywel Dda, we know that the card provides more choice, flexibility and variety."
The contactless card, which functions like a pre-paid Mastercard, will be topped up every three months.
