News from Anaphylaxis UK - At the start of Allergy Awareness Week, a groundbreaking coalition of charities, clinicians and patients have united to tackle decades of policy neglect with allergic disease affecting over 25% of UK population.
On 20th April in Westminster, Anaphylaxis UK together with National Allergy Strategy Group has launched UK’s first National Allergy Strategy. The subsequent launches are expected in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The National Allergy Strategy Group – a coalition of allergy charities, clinicians and patients – aims to deliver significant benefits to patients living with allergies, as well as the NHS and wider public services through prevention, early intervention and more efficient use of resources, reducing preventable harm and addressing health inequalities. Together, we aim to improve access to life-changing allergy care across the country.
The UK has some of the highest allergy rates in the world with 39% of children and 30% of adults affected by allergies. Against this backdrop, the new Strategy provides a coordinated, four-nation response to decades of fragmented care. The Strategy was developed by an unprecedented coalition including the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI), Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis UK, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, over 150 experts and representatives from all four UK nations.
Goals
The Strategy focuses on key issues that matter to people living with allergy, including:
- improving patient safety and consistency of allergy care,
- strengthening awareness and understanding in schools and workplaces,
- safer food systems and clearer labelling,
- addressing environmental factors that contribute to allergic disease,
- building a workforce able to meet current and future allergy needs.
These priorities are delivered through five strategic goals:
Goal 1. National policy that addresses the needs of people living with allergies
Goal 2. Patients across the UK have equitable access to high-quality, life-long allergy healthcare, provided by an NHS workforce that is educated and trained to deliver this
Goal 3. Prevention strategies to reduce the burden of allergic decease
Goal 4. Whole society awareness and engagement to promote safety, inclusion and quality of life for those affected by allergy
Goal 5. State-of-the-art research to reduce the impact of allergic disease
This launch marks an important step, but it is not the end of the journey. NASG partners will now be working together to engage decision‑makers, influence policy, and support progress across all four nations so that the commitments in the Strategy can lead to meaningful change for people living with allergy.
The Strategy can be read in full at www.nasguk.org
For more details about the UK's first National Allergy Strategy, visit Anaphylaxis UK for the full report by clicking here.