Hope for allergy patients as first ever UK strategy for allergy education is launched

BSACI has launched a National Allergy Education Strategy to ensure health care professionals (HCPs) can manage patients with allergic diseases and to close the gap in allergy education. Despite the long-recognized health impact of allergy, patients and families continue to struggle to access timely, individualized care and support.

Allergic diseases are common, affecting many people throughout life, however few health care professionals receive formal training in allergy, meaning patients are often poorly managed. BSACI has developed the National Allergy Education Strategy to ensure quality allergy education for all healthcare professionals, in a manner that is appropriate to their professional roles.

The strategy, written by a multi-disciplinary team of allergy educators and clinical experts with consultation of key stakeholders, addresses education and training of all HCPs in undergraduate, community and hospital settings. In so doing, it aligns educational goals with the care needs of patients progressing through an integrated healthcare system, in keeping with the recommendations of NHS and European policy frameworks. Professor Judith Holloway, BSACI Allergy Education Network Chair explains ‘over the last two years our Network has worked with passion on this first ever National Allergy Education Strategy. Patients are being let down as there is not enough good quality evidence-based education for HCPs to manage their allergies. Patients deserve great allergy care which relies on great allergy education.’

The potential impact of a National Allergy Education Strategy is far-reaching. HCPs will be enabled to provide proactive, evidence-based care to patients. It will ensure sustainable high-quality care, focused on educating the next generation of HCPs that has patients’ quality of life at their centre.

‘With exciting advances in the fields now looking to start changing clinical practice, it’s essential that we have the opportunity to grow and extend the services that we offer to ensure that every patient with allergy in the UK has access to high quality care. One of the key elements of this will be ensuring that allergy education of the highest quality is available.’  Adam Fox, BSACI Past President

Medical professionals and students working in allergy can support this radical reform of what and how education is delivered so that gaps in practice are filled. To view the strategy and find out more about becoming an Allergy Education Champion click here.

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