Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide (a) enhanced diagnostics and (b) treatment for people under the age of 16 who have allergies.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all people with allergies, including those under 16, have access to the services they need to manage their condition. The majority of those with allergies can be supported by locally commissioned services, with specialist allergy clinics available for those with more severe or complex allergic conditions.

Specialist allergy services are commissioned by NHS England Specialised Commissioning in line with the published Service Specification. This sets out that providers should deliver a diagnostic package for the investigation of suspected allergic diseases, including initial consultation and follow-up in a dedicated allergy clinic and specialised allergy tests. There are regular review meetings between the regional commissioning teams and providers to ensure compliance with service standards.

To support healthcare professionals, including those in primary care settings, in the implementation of clear care pathways, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of drug and food allergy in people aged under 19 years old. The guidance aims to improve diagnosis by offering advice on how to identify allergies and when to refer to secondary or specialist care.

The Royal College of General Practitioners have added allergy training to the new General Practitioner (GP) curriculum (2019) and, to support existing GPs, it has developed an allergy e-learning resource. Both resources aim to educate GPs about the various symptoms of allergic disease and to ensure that people with allergies can be effectively supported at primary care level.

While there are no specific treatments for allergies for those under 16 years old, the National Health Service website recommends the below treatments for allergies: medicines for mild allergic reactions like antihistamines, steroid tablets and steroid creams; emergency medicines called adrenaline auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergic reactions; and desensitisation, or immunotherapy, for severe allergic reactions, involving carefully exposing an individual to the thing they are allergic to over time, so that their body gradually gets used to it and does not react so badly. This should only be done by a medical professional.