NHS allergy services in the UK: proposals to improve allergy care

Abstract

Allergy is common and its prevalence has increased substantially in the last 2-3 decades. There has been a particular increase in severe allergic disease, including anaphylaxis and food, drug and latex rubber allergy. Provision of allergy services in the NHS is poor and there is a huge unmet need. Allergy is a full specialty, but there are few consultants and few trainees: only six centres in the UK offer a full-time specialist service. Most allergy services are provided by doctors - general practitioners and consultants in other specialties - with little or no training in allergy. Whilst specialists in other areas of medicine have a role in the management of allergy, it is no longer adequate to devolve most allergy care to them. The lack of special care leads to morbidity, mortality and substantial cost to the NHS, much of it avoidable. To ensure that adequate standards of care are satisfactory, allergy care must be led by allergy specialists. More consultant posts and training posts in allergy are urgently needed; this requires recognition by trust managers, regional commissioners and the Department of Health. As a first step, we propose the setting up of appropriately staffed regional allergy centres. This could be achieved with a central directive and (relatively minor) pump-priming of funding.