RCP Comment On House Of Lords Allergy Report, UK

Main Category: Allergy
Article Date: 27 Sep 2007 - 19:00 PDT

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The Royal College of Physicians welcomes the recognition by the House of Lords of the key role of allergy specialists in providing a comprehensive network of expert services, and the important role of many of its physician specialties in providing the best care for patients with allergic diseases.

Despite the conclusions of the College's own 2003 report, the DH Review of Allergy services and 2 independent reviews that provision of services for allergy is patchy and inadequate in the UK, there remains little central funding, and few drivers to support the rapid development of a comprehensive network of specialist centres. A post-code lottery prevails. The college continues to work to facilitate networking and agreed models of care through its intercollegiate committees, professional societies and other stakeholders.

The controversy over the advice regarding peanut avoidance in pregnancy simply highlights how much important information we have still to learn about allergic diseases, and the importance of improving both care for allergic patients and UK-based research on the most effective methods to deliver it in the most cost-effective way.

The Royal College of Physicians is fully supportive of the conclusions of the House of Lords in their call for the establishment of a network of specialist multi-disciplinary allergy centres to support translational research. However, improvements will not occur without funding, an implementation strategy and more trainee doctor posts in allergy.

http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk