Long follow up waiting time for children’s allergy specialists

Children suffering from potentially life threatening allergies are having to wait between one and two years for follow up paediatric appointments a UK charity finds.

According to research by Allergy UK, poor NHS resources mean though children are waiting less time for their first allergy appointment, follow up waiting times are long.

Better support from GPs, health visitors and practice nurses is needed, the charity says. But it finds that time and specialised training at Primary Care Level is lacking.

Long term problems arising from untreated allergies may lead to allergic asthma, eczema and even anaphylaxis unless managed correctly.

Allergy UK’s CEO, Jim Bennett said: “Allergy can be life-threatening so a lack of diagnosis and support is extremely frightening for sufferers. Allergy affects millions of people in the UK which has a severe impact upon their everyday lives and prolongs unnecessary suffering.

www.allergyuk.org