BSACI response to new RCP report  

Services for allergy sufferers have not improved despite DoH recommendations. 

 RCP Report: Allergy services- still not meeting the unmet needs 470.02 Kb

British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) press release:
 

‘Allergy Services:  Still not meeting the unmet need’ 
A new Report by the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists, supported by the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology has highlighted the shortage of NHS specialists capable of dealing effectively with allergies and the paucity of services in much of the UK for millions of allergy sufferers.

• Allergy services in much of the UK are inadequate and there is a wide gap between patient need and specialist services available. The UK is a poor relation in allergy care compared to many countries in the developed world.

• This has been set out in a series of Reports (Royal College of Physicians ‘Allergy: the unmet need’ 2003, House of Commons Health Committee 2004, Department of Health 2006 and House of Lords Science & Technology Committee 2007. These made recommendations for improvements, including recommending an increase in the number of allergists and more allergy centres to improve access to care and reduce the geographical inequalities.

• The new report released today has examined the changes since the House of Lords 2007 report. It shows that although there has been some very limited progress in some areas, but in the majority of areas, including clinical services, it has been extremely slow or non-existent.

• The Report emphasizes the need for more allergists and for better allergy services. Without more doctors with allergy training and expertise, improved services and a wider reach to patients will not occur.

• One new centre, recommended by the DH report in 2006, has been started recently in the North West: this is a virtual centre dependent upon good communication between allergists, immunologists and other specialists, progress is slow and real change for patients is, so far, minimal.

• Guidelines and care pathways have been developed and are of value, but the requirement to delivering these is more allergy specialists: this would be the most cost effective lever in cash strapped NHS. Allergists can enhance services directly but also act as a multiplier by supporting, educating and interacting with doctors and nurses in primary and secondary care who are contributing to allergy care.

• The current lack of services continues to result in unnecessary cost to the NHS in unchecked and ongoing disease e.g. asthma exacerbations, repeated anaphylaxis, or undiagnosed food and drug allergies as well as poor educational and work performance. This cost could be reduced by developing effective allergy services.

Notes to Editors

About The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology

The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) is the national, professional and academic society which represents the specialty of allergy at all levels. Its aim is to improve the management of allergies and related diseases of the immune system in the United Kingdom, through education, training and research.

Contacts:

Glenis Scadding, President BSACI, Consultant Allergist 078880305631

Pamela Ewan, Consultant Allergist, BSACI lead for clinical services 07979 536099 and 01223 217777

Nicola Brathwaite, Consultant Paediatric Allergist. BSACI director of communications 0775161732

Ms Sally-Anne Cooke (BSACI office): 0207 8087135
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BSACI website:  www.bsaci.org