Northern Ireland launches National Allergy Strategy to address crisis affecting thousands across the region
At an organised event at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on 1 June 2026, the National Allergy Strategy was launched in Northern Ireland on behalf of the National Allergy Strategy Group, as a groundbreaking coalition of charities, clinicians and patients calls for urgent action to tackle decades of policy neglect and fragmented allergy care.
- Allergic disease is common and rising – the UK has some of the highest allergy rates in the world, with 39% of children and 30% of adults affected by allergic disease
- Northern Ireland patients face unacceptable inequality – the Strategy highlights postcode variation, workforce gaps and the need for stronger, more joined-up allergy services across Northern Ireland
- The National Allergy Strategy provides a clear plan for change – setting out action on leadership, healthcare access, prevention, public awareness and research, while backing stronger protections in schools and food settings
The Northern Ireland launch marks the next phase of engagement following the UK-wide launch of the National Allergy Strategy in April 2026.
Developed through more than two decades of advocacy and two years of intensive collaborative work, the Strategy sets out a four-nation blueprint to address systemic failures in allergy care, reduce preventable harm, tackle health inequalities and embed allergy within national policy frameworks.
The National Allergy Strategy was developed by the National Allergy Strategy Group, which was formed in 2003 and includes the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis UK and The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.
It was shaped by more than 150 experts across nine working groups, alongside consultation with patients, professionals and stakeholders from across the UK.
Despite affecting millions, allergic disease remains dramatically under-resourced within the NHS, with many patients facing delays in diagnosis, unequal access to specialist services and inconsistent standards of care.
The Strategy sets out a bold, comprehensive plan built around five strategic goals: UK-wide leadership and governance, equitable access to quality healthcare, prevention strategies, whole society awareness and engagement, and world-leading research.
For Northern Ireland, the launch provides an important opportunity to focus on implementation within the devolved systems and to ensure allergy is recognised as a serious long-term condition requiring coordinated action across health, education, food regulation and wider public policy.
The National Allergy Strategy has been presented to the Northern Ireland Executive, alongside the other UK governments, to inform discussion and support future improvements in allergy care.
Professor Adam Fox OBE, Chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group, said: “For too long, despite the scale of the problem, too little has been done to develop solutions. This strategy focuses on system-level change, embedding allergy into national policy, strengthening safety in everyday environments and improving accountability across health, education, food and workplace settings”.
He added,: “The NASG believes that co-development and implementation of the Strategy is the most effective way to address the burden of allergic disease. Since progress will require action across multiple policy areas, alignment with existing priorities across all four UK nations will be critical.”
Dr Caoimhe Glancy, Northern Ireland Lead for the National Allergy Strategy Group, said: “The launch of the National Allergy Strategy in Northern Ireland is an important opportunity to shine a light on the very real challenges faced by people living with allergic disease here. We now need coordinated action to improve access to care, reduce inequalities and ensure people with allergies are safer and better supported in everyday life”.
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Editors’ notes
The National Allergy Strategy is a UK-wide strategy document covering the period 2026 to 2036 and setting out key objectives and priority areas for improving the lives of people living with allergic disease.
The National Allergy Strategy Group was formed in 2003 and includes BSACI, Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis UK and The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. The Strategy was developed by more than 150 experts across nine working groups and informed by public consultation responses from across the UK.
The full Strategy is available at www.nasguk.org
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