Provision for the diagnosis and management of allergies on the NHS is inadequate and putting lives at risk, campaigners have claimed.
According to Allergy UK, many GPs and pharmacists have only limited training in allergic reactions and the number of specialist clinics is also insufficient, leaving many patients with no choice but to visit private allergy clinics.
The charity said that doctors are not picking up on allergies early enough, meaning that many people are at unnecessary risk from anaphylaxis - a potentially life-threatening reaction that occurs in around a quarter of allergic reactions in England.
A spokeswoman for Allergy UK told BBC News: "Doctors and other health professionals get little training about dealing with allergies. It means patients are being put at risk."
The Royal College of GPs admitted that there were inadequate facilities for the diagnosis and management of patients with allergies, but the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain told the BBC that a "large focus" of pharmacists' training is on allergies.
A government review of allergy services published last July confirmed that there are gaps in healthcare professionals' knowledge of allergy diagnosis, but failed to provide a commitment for additional funding.
© Adfero Ltd
According to Allergy UK, many GPs and pharmacists have only limited training in allergic reactions and the number of specialist clinics is also insufficient, leaving many patients with no choice but to visit private allergy clinics.
The charity said that doctors are not picking up on allergies early enough, meaning that many people are at unnecessary risk from anaphylaxis - a potentially life-threatening reaction that occurs in around a quarter of allergic reactions in England.
A spokeswoman for Allergy UK told BBC News: "Doctors and other health professionals get little training about dealing with allergies. It means patients are being put at risk."
The Royal College of GPs admitted that there were inadequate facilities for the diagnosis and management of patients with allergies, but the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain told the BBC that a "large focus" of pharmacists' training is on allergies.
A government review of allergy services published last July confirmed that there are gaps in healthcare professionals' knowledge of allergy diagnosis, but failed to provide a commitment for additional funding.
© Adfero Ltd
Allergy news : 23/05/2007
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