Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve the detection and treatment of (a) food and (b) other allergies.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced a range of allergy related guidance including food allergy, anaphylaxis, drug allergy, bee and wasp allergy, eczema and asthma. NICE provides guidance on best practice in the diagnosis and management of disease as well as assessing specific interventions and procedures.

Whilst the vast majority of patients with allergies can be successfully managed through routine access to primary and secondary care, NHS England commissions certain elements of specialised care that may be needed. Specialised care providers offer multidisciplinary team support and involve a range of clinical specialities.

Correspondence records indicate that since the beginning of the year, Ministers of the Department have received less than five letters from allergy organisations. No letters from patient groups or medical professionals were identified.