New Pharmacy Service Offers Hope For Allergy Sufferers, UK

Main Category: Allergy
Article Date: 14 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Over 20 million people in the UK suffer from allergy at some point in their life and for the majority obtaining the help to know what is causing their problem is virtually impossible. Without the knowledge of what is causing a reaction allergy sufferers are unable to manage their condition properly and often go on to experience increasing health problems.

In response to continual demand from the public contacting Allergy UK requesting advice on where to obtain good credible allergy diagnosis Allergy UK announce today that from 19th May they will be introducing an allergy screening service which will be available through the local pharmacy.

"This is an exciting development for people with allergy and we have listened to those who contact us desperate for help. They want a local, affordable service where they can feel confident in the advice being given" said Muriel Simmons CEO of Allergy UK. "We are delighted to be working with the National Pharmacy Association to introduce this much needed service. The local pharmacy is often the first place that people turn to for advice with a health problem and it is therefore logical to establish a high quality allergy screening service within the pharmacy."

The service will offer a consultation during which a full clinical history will be taken by the pharmacist who will have undergone special training both by the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education at Manchester University and with the Clinical Director of Allergy UK. On-going support and information for the allergy sufferer will then be provided by Allergy UK.

"We needed to be sure that pharmacists received the best possible training to enable them to undertake the detailed clinical history required for good diagnosis. Any sufferer going to a pharmacist bearing the Allergy UK accreditation can be assured that the person they are seeing is a highly trained healthcare professional" said Jules Payne Deputy CEO and Head of Pharmacy Services for Allergy UK.

The Allergy Screening service will be a central part of the 2008 National Pharmacy Association 'Ask your Pharmacist' Campaign. It is planned that from May 19th (National Allergy Week) the service will be rolled out in selected pharmacies. Initially there will be 600 pharmacists around the UK wanting to introduce the service and we are working hard to deliver training to each of these. As at 19 May we will have at least one pharmacist delivering the service in 51 of the 152 PCT areas in England. Our ultimate objective is to provide pharmacy based allergy screening services in every community in the UK with eventual roll out in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

John Turk, Chief Executive from the National Pharmacy Association said "I am delighted that our members will be able to offer a solution to those needing an allergy screening service. Pharmacists are in the right place and have the right training to provide improved access to this service."

Notes

- 1 in 3 of the population suffer from allergy at some point in their life.
- Asthma, Rhinitis and eczema have tripled in the last 20 years.
- 1 in 5 of the population suffer from asthma.
- 12 million people are allergic to cats.
- Peanut allergy has tripled in the last three year.10 years ago it was a very rare condition.
- 8% of healthcare workers suffer from latex allergy yet in 1979 only 2 cases were known.
- 40% of children suffer from allergy.
- 25% of all young people between the ages of 11 -21 suffer from hayfever.
- There is approximately only one consultant allergist for every 2 million of the population.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) was established in 1921 as the trade association of community pharmacy owners. Currently virtually all community pharmacy owners in the UK are in voluntary membership.

National Pharmacy Association