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| Wales gluten-free food debit card to be used in UK first | Wales gluten-free food debit card to be used in UK first |
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| Cherylee Barker has used preloaded cash cards for almost six years and says they help with the high cost of gluten-free foods, but do not cover the full cost | Cherylee Barker has used preloaded cash cards for almost six years and says they help with the high cost of gluten-free foods, but do not cover the full cost |
| People in Wales who cannot eat gluten will be given debit-style cards preloaded with money to help pay for their food. | People in Wales who cannot eat gluten will be given debit-style cards preloaded with money to help pay for their food. |
| The UK-first move, which begins later this year, will be an alternative to the current system where those with conditions such as coeliac disease - which affects about one in 100 people - get food on prescription from the pharmacy. | The UK-first move, which begins later this year, will be an alternative to the current system where those with conditions such as coeliac disease - which affects about one in 100 people - get food on prescription from the pharmacy. |
| Cherylee Barker, 54, from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, took part in a pilot scheme and got £14 a month, which she said "scratches the surface of the cost". | Cherylee Barker, 54, from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, took part in a pilot scheme and got £14 a month, which she said "scratches the surface of the cost". |
| A Coeliac UK report said a gluten free diet added 35% to food bills and Health Minister Jeremy Miles said the Welsh government wanted to "de-medicalise the supply of gluten-free foods". | A Coeliac UK report said a gluten free diet added 35% to food bills and Health Minister Jeremy Miles said the Welsh government wanted to "de-medicalise the supply of gluten-free foods". |
| The new card will work like a chip and Pin bank card and be taken in most places that sell gluten-free food, including supermarkets, shops, community pharmacies and online stores, according to the Welsh government. | The new card will work like a chip and Pin bank card and be taken in most places that sell gluten-free food, including supermarkets, shops, community pharmacies and online stores, according to the Welsh government. |
| It would not say how much people will be given - just that it will vary by person and be regularly reviewed - or how much would be spent on the scheme. | It would not say how much people will be given - just that it will vary by person and be regularly reviewed - or how much would be spent on the scheme. |
| Ministers anticipate it will be "cost neutral" and not add any more to the NHS budget. | Ministers anticipate it will be "cost neutral" and not add any more to the NHS budget. |
| The prescription model will still be available in Wales, which is similar to schemes in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. | The prescription model will still be available in Wales, which is similar to schemes in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| In England, decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local health boards. | |
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| Those with coeliac disease cannot eat gluten as their immune system attacks their own tissues and their body cannot properly take in nutrients. | Those with coeliac disease cannot eat gluten as their immune system attacks their own tissues and their body cannot properly take in nutrients. |
| It results in symptoms including bloating, vomiting and diarrhoea. | It results in symptoms including bloating, vomiting and diarrhoea. |
| There is also an added cost, with gluten-free food more expensive in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, the four leading supermarkets. | There is also an added cost, with gluten-free food more expensive in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, the four leading supermarkets. |
| The average price of an own brand loaf of bread was 63p, compared with £2.26 for a gluten-free equivalent. | The average price of an own brand loaf of bread was 63p, compared with £2.26 for a gluten-free equivalent. |
| Supermarket penne pasta averaged 56p per 500g whereas the lowest gluten-free option averaged £1.22. | Supermarket penne pasta averaged 56p per 500g whereas the lowest gluten-free option averaged £1.22. |
| Ms Barker, who has coeliac disease, has been part of the pilot scheme in the Hywel Dda health board area for the past five years. | Ms Barker, who has coeliac disease, has been part of the pilot scheme in the Hywel Dda health board area for the past five years. |
| She gets £42 every three months, which equates to £14 a month, and described the previous prescription system as "slightly embarrassing" and the food "not that edible". | She gets £42 every three months, which equates to £14 a month, and described the previous prescription system as "slightly embarrassing" and the food "not that edible". |
| She said: "I didn't want to take the money from the NHS. I thought 'just suck it up and see' but after a little while I just found it was just becoming more and more expensive. | She said: "I didn't want to take the money from the NHS. I thought 'just suck it up and see' but after a little while I just found it was just becoming more and more expensive. |
| "It isn't a lifestyle choice, it is a need." | "It isn't a lifestyle choice, it is a need." |
| Despite saying the card was "fantastic", she said the amount she got was only "scratching the surface" of rising costs for everybody, especially coeliacs. | Despite saying the card was "fantastic", she said the amount she got was only "scratching the surface" of rising costs for everybody, especially coeliacs. |
| Bethan Williams says having to "budget for bread" can be damaging to people's health | Bethan Williams says having to "budget for bread" can be damaging to people's health |
| Bethan Williams, 24, from Cardiff, said prescriptions did not work for her as the food was low quality. | Bethan Williams, 24, from Cardiff, said prescriptions did not work for her as the food was low quality. |
| As a vegetarian, she said the cash cards could give people with additional dietary needs the freedom to make healthy choices. | As a vegetarian, she said the cash cards could give people with additional dietary needs the freedom to make healthy choices. |
| "I am in a good position that I can afford the higher quality bread but that is not the case for all people," she said. | "I am in a good position that I can afford the higher quality bread but that is not the case for all people," she said. |
| "Eating food and being able to eat a balanced diet isn't a privilege, it's something everyone should be entitled to." | "Eating food and being able to eat a balanced diet isn't a privilege, it's something everyone should be entitled to." |
| Gemma Beere from Plumvanilla cafe says businesses need to weigh up supporting the community with high costs | Gemma Beere from Plumvanilla cafe says businesses need to weigh up supporting the community with high costs |
| For businesses such as Plumvanilla Cafe and deli in Narberth, which accepts the cash card, making sure they can serve the community's needs is becoming more necessary. | For businesses such as Plumvanilla Cafe and deli in Narberth, which accepts the cash card, making sure they can serve the community's needs is becoming more necessary. |
| Gemma Beere, who works at the cafe, said: "We've noticed more and more people shopping with gluten-free requirements so we like to keep a big stock." | Gemma Beere, who works at the cafe, said: "We've noticed more and more people shopping with gluten-free requirements so we like to keep a big stock." |
| But she added it was a challenge balancing stocking the shelves with the high cost items and making sure nothing goes to waste. | But she added it was a challenge balancing stocking the shelves with the high cost items and making sure nothing goes to waste. |
| Miles said the move would cut "administrative burdens on GPs and pharmacies". | Miles said the move would cut "administrative burdens on GPs and pharmacies". |
| He added: "For people living with coeliac disease, following a strict gluten-free diet is not a lifestyle choice but a medical necessity. | He added: "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." | "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." |
| Tristan Humphreys from Coeliac UK said: "We need to recognise that a gluten-free diet is the treatment for coeliac disease, it's a serious autoimmune disease not a lifestyle choice – we want that recognised." | Tristan Humphreys from Coeliac UK said: "We need to recognise that a gluten-free diet is the treatment for coeliac disease, it's a serious autoimmune disease not a lifestyle choice – we want that recognised." |
| He added supporting people's diets would help prevent health complications down the line and was "cost efficient" for the NHS and called on other UK nations to follow suit. | He added supporting people's diets would help prevent health complications down the line and was "cost efficient" for the NHS and called on other UK nations to follow suit. |
| Additional reporting by Sara Dafydd | Additional reporting by Sara Dafydd |