BSACI National Allergy Education Strategy

Allergic diseases are common and can affect people throughout their lives, yet many healthcare professionals receive little formal allergy training which can lead to inconsistent care and outcomes for patients.

BSACI has developed the National Allergy Education Strategy to support high-quality, evidence-based allergy education for all healthcare professionals, tailored to their roles. The aim is to ensure every patient receives timely, personalised and effective allergy care.

Developed by a multidisciplinary team of allergy educators and clinical experts, with input from key stakeholders, the strategy spans undergraduate education and community and hospital settings. It supports a consistent approach to allergy education across an integrated healthcare system.

Download the BSACI Allergy Education Strategy here 

Published in 2021, the strategy was led by Professor Judith Holloway and the BSACI Allergy Education Network.

A key part of the BSACI National Allergy Education Strategy is the accreditation of educational courses, ensuring they are inclusive, accessible and meet appropriate quality standards to support the training needs of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Courses awarded BSACI accreditation for a defined period will provide recognised quality assurance, giving HCPs confidence that the education they choose meets clearly defined standards.

To underpin this approach, BSACI led the development of the National Allergy Capabilities Framework, establishing national standards for the allergy knowledge, skills and capabilities required by professionals caring for people with allergic disease. The Framework builds on the BSACI National Allergy Education Strategy, which identified significant gaps in allergy knowledge and education across the healthcare workforce, particularly in primary care, where much of allergic disease is managed.

Download the National Allergy Capabilities Framework

Published in 2026, this framework was developed by BSACI under the leadership of Professor Gillian Vance and Dr Jennie Gane.

Designed for both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals, the Framework sets out five progressive tiers of capability, from basic allergy awareness and signposting through to advanced specialist care. These are supported by ten core capability areas, encompassing diagnosis, management, emergency care, patient support, leadership and education.

The Framework provides a practical structure for individuals, employers, NHS organisations and Integrated Care Systems to identify learning needs, guide professional development and strengthen workforce capability. It also provides the foundation for BSACI Learn Allergy, a new educational platform offering structured learning resources aligned with the Framework’s tiers and capabilities.

BSACI vision for patient-focused education

Benefits for Healthcare Professionals

• Access to accredited high-quality allergy education, which acknowledges the impact of allergy on patients and families
• Health care professionals will be enabled to provide proactive, evidence-based care to patients, appropriate to their professional role
• The development of trusted and supportive professional collaborations
• Opportunities to develop interests in clinical and academic career opportunities in allergy

Benefits for Organisations

• Sustainable and safe high-quality care
• Clear competencies for healthcare professionals, specific to their role
• The strategy supports organisational change and innovation in the education and training of healthcare professionals
• A culture of allergy awareness, and in turn empowering commissioners to invest in value-based allergy pathways that produce an optimal, cost-effective patient journey