Patient Experiences - Lack of allergy services

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The DH review further states that: ‘In the light of local priorities, local health commissioners will need to consider – for allergy as for other services – how to include:

• Patient choice in allergy
• High quality information about allergy for the public
• Increased investment in the Expert Patient Programme as it relates to allergy
• Practice based commissioning for services for allergy

Currently the patient groups hear all too often that there are too few allergy specialists to cope with the growing need of the allergic population. These quotes illustrate this fact:

“It took three referrals before we could get a doctor to issue [adrenaline auto-injectors] for emergency use. The initial advice was don’t eat nuts and you don’t need [adrenaline auto-injectors]”
David Casey, Bedfordshire

“My son has a nut allergy. After his first anaphylactic shock we were sent home from Kingston Hospital without an [adrenaline auto-injectors] and without a single piece of information.”
Mrs Rea, Surbiton

“To sum it up I feel as though the first 20 years of my life has been one big game of Russian roulette, through lack of knowledge and advice I have taken many risks. ”
Name and address supplied

“My son was three when he had an anaphylactic reaction to a wasp sting. He is now 13 and has still never been seen by an allergy specialist despite requests.”
Maureen Quarry, Gloucester

“Our whole lives are based on what is safe for Lily -not that we would dream of anything else, only a cure!”
Name and address supplied

“My son had an anaphylactic reaction to a brazil nut so an eight month wait on the NHS is unacceptable.”
Dr Madan, Tunbridge Wells

“Archie, seven years – eczema/asthma from three months. Diagnosed multiple nut allergy/shellfish four years ago by a private consultant. GP refused allergy testing.”
Name and address supplied

“....my GP would not prescribe [adrenaline auto-injectors], complaining that they cost £20 each and have to be thrown away after a year. What price a child’s life?”
Mrs M Meechan, London SE9

“I’ve struggled with asthma for 33 years and been sent to various specialists but no one could help. ………years ago I was told by a chest consultant, the only cure was to move from East Anglia, but I refused to do that. It is only in the last 2 years, since I was referred to a specialist allergy clinic, my asthma has been controlled – the best years of my life…..why did I have to wait 31 years?
Mr A Powell, Norfolk

My hay fever was devastating…..I couldn’t work…every summer despite trying all the drugs I ended up in A&E with a swollen face and couldn’t breathe. After 1 year of desensitisation my life is transformed. I only needed a few antihistamine tablets this summer……but it took my allergist months and many letters to persuade the PCT to fund this.
Mrs BS, Essex