PARENTS have been left angry and frustrated after being hit with charges for making special dietary requests for their kids’ school meals.
More than 500 youngsters in primary schools, secondary schools, and nurseries across the region currently have special dietary requirements due to food allergies and intolerances.
Schools expect parents/carers to submit a special dietary request form so the details can be passed onto the catering service producing school meals.
These forms are signed off by doctors – however some GPs are now charging parents a fee.
This issue has been highlighted in a new school meals report, which is due to be discussed by councillors this week.
The report states: “Recently, the service has experienced a rise of parents/carers highlighting costs associated to their submission of their request forms.
“Some GP practices are now requesting a payment for the special diet request form to be signed by healthcare professionals. The GPs that are requesting this payment are stating that by carrying out this task it is taking time away from contracted NHS work.
“The introduction of this financial cost to families with children and young people who have allergies, intolerances and medical conditions brings concerns to the service as there could now be a potential cost associated with request forms.”
The catering service is now exploring options to try and get round the situation.
The council’s currently deals with a total of 356 special diets in primary schools, 98 special diets in secondary schools, and 72 special diets in nurseries.
Reviews are continually carried out due to “changes within allergens and intolerances”.
A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “We’ll seek to engage with the local authority on this matter, and to seek clarity on any requirement for GPs to provide this information rather than parents themselves.”
