The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board took the decision last week to stop prescribing gluten free foods following a public consultation. 

The board, which is run by Caroline Trewithick, is having to make cost savings and the measure will save the health board £250,000.  

Some people are allergic to gluten and have to remove it from their diet due to digestive health complications it can cause. 

The move by the health board has been heavily criticised by charity Coeliac UK, which says it will create a challenge for some residents in the area to maintain a gluten free diet. 

It said: "72% of consultation respondents disagreed with the proposal with 58% citing concerns over the affordability of gluten free food. Despite this, the ICB has made no effort to meaningfully reduce the impact of this policy change.  

"The charity has met with representatives from the ICB on a number of occasions and submitted evidence in support of continued provision. In our discussions and evidence, we highlighted the significant additional cost of gluten free products and the nutritional and practical importance of these products, which poses a real challenge to maintaining the gluten free diet, the only treatment for the condition."   

Chief medical officer for LLR ICB, Dr Nil Sanganee said: "In reaching what is a very difficult decision regarding gluten-free products on prescription, we have carefully considered all the evidence from financial, clinical and patient perspectives." 

He said it is possible to eat a gluten-free diet without the need for any specialist dietary foods, simply by choosing naturally gluten-free carbohydrates. 

1,468 people responded to the consultation with the majority of people disagreeing with the proposal to stop providing up to eight units of gluten-free bread or flour on prescription to people diagnosed with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.