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UK 'failing allergy sufferers'Date: 26/09/2007 11:42:30
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The UK is failing to provide adequate care for the growing trend of people with allergies, it has been claimed.
The House of Lords science and technology committee has issued a warning about the lack of specialist allergy services in the UK, as well as poor food labelling.
Advice issued to pregnant women to avoid eating peanuts was also criticised for helping to increase the number of young children with nut allergies.
The advice comes as the number of people suffering allergic reactions has trebled in the past two decades.
Committee chairman Baroness Finlay said: "We have a severe shortage of expert medical provision to deal with allergies.
"The government must now take steps to deal with that problem."
Health minister Ann Keen said: "There are currently more than 90 allergy clinics in England, led by a range of specialists including allergists, clinical immunologists, respiratory physicians and dermatologists.
"To build on these firm foundations, we have centrally funded additional allergy and immunology training posts this year and asked the NHS to look at whether it needs to commission more local training posts."
Although the recommendations were welcomed by charity Allergy UK, the body expressed concern that the committee's report failed to address the ways of tackling the shortage of services.
"We look forward with cautious optimism to the possibility of a new allergy centre particularly if established in an area of dire need for allergy services," a statement said.
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