Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients who need to follow medically prescribed diets and are experiencing food insecurity receive appropriate support; and whether he will commit to producing national guidance, developed in conjunction with registered dietetic professionals.

The Department recognises that food insecurity can make it harder for people to follow medically prescribed diets and can worsen the risk of poor nutrition and malnutrition. Registered dietitians already play an important role in supporting affected patients through compassionate assessment of financial and practical barriers, adapting dietary advice to be realistic and affordable, and signposting to wider support such as local welfare assistance, community food provision and food banks where appropriate. The Department has also worked with the Money and Pensions Service and NHS England to support the workforce through resources and e-learning, including tools to help practitioners discuss money worries with patients and signpost them to relevant support. The Department recognises the value of registered dietetic professionals in this area and will continue to work with partners to support practical approaches that help patients follow medically prescribed diets.

Support is available to help reduce costs for patients who are prescribed foods or supplements. Patients may be eligible for exemption from National Health Service prescription charges. Those who do not qualify for an exemption can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.