Allergy: Service, Politics and Real life!!

Bedford Allergy Support Group

3 May 2005

Dr. Ramesh Mehta FRCP;FRCPCH;MD;DCH

Consultant Paediatrician, Bedford Hospital

 House of Commons Health
Committee
The Provision of Allergy Services,
Committee Report – Nov 04
• Prevalence increased
greatly & rapidly

• Specialist Allergy
Services: Hardly Any!!

• Ignorance amongst
Patients and GPs

• Service- A Disgrace!!
 House of Commons Health
Committee
The Provision of Allergy Services,
Committee Report – Nov 04

• PCTs don’t recognise the

problem
• Children at forefront of
the epidemic
• Children's NSF
• Services for children,
even worst!!
 House of Commons Health
Committee
The Provision of Allergy Services,
Committee Report – Nov 04

• Centre of Expertise in all parts

• A specialist consultant in each
teaching hospital
• Increase training posts
• GPs with special interest
 Bedford Story
• Good but not ideal services at
Addenbrookes

• 40% work paediatrics

• Only one paediatric Consultant

• Dr Ewan trying to her best

 Bedford Story
• 5 consultant
Paediatricians,
should be 8
• 1 consultant
Dermatologist
• 2 Paediatric
Dieticians
• 1 Paediatric Asthma
Nurse
• Shared care with
Addenbrookes
 Bedford Story

• Funding!

• Funding!!

• Funding!!!
Bedford Story
 Real Life!

"I think my baby is allergic

to milk and the health
visitor/GP/friend/magazi
ne suggested I try Soya
milk"
 Real Life!

"Can my child with

egg allergy have the
MMR or influenza
vaccine?"
 Real Life!

"My child had this speck

of peanut butter for
the very first time and
he got this florid skin
rash"
 Real Life!

"Will their next reaction

be worse?"
 Real Life!

"Can they die?"

 Real Life!

"Will they grow out of it?"

 Real Life!

"My 14 year old, when she

eats peaches, develops a
tingling and itchiness in
her mouth"
 Real Life!

"Sometimes when my
child has had a meal
and runs about
afterwards, they
develop a rash and
wheezing"
 Real Life!

"Will my child react to

other things that we
won’t know about in
the future?"
 Real Life!

“Will my child need an

adrenaline injection
device, for example,
EpiPen”
 Real Life!

"Does food allergy cause

autism?"
 Real Life!

"My child is very hyperactive. Is

this due to food allergy?"
Thank you!