The number of people suffering from allergic reactions in the UK has trebled in the last 20 years, with a third of the population estimated to suffer from allergy at some point in their lives.
But a report by The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee has warned that GPs are not sufficiently trained in allergy to be able to provide an accurate diagnosis, and some do not know when and to whom to refer allergy cases.
Dr Mark Levy, a GP in Middlesex with an interest in allergy who submitted evidence to the report, believes that there is a lack of incentives to encourage GPs to undergo training in allergy.
The asthma indicator in the quality framework is worth 45 points, but allergy is not incorporated into this, or elsewhere in the framework, said Dr Levy in his submission.
Proposals to include allergy into the quality indicator for asthma were unsuccessfully put forward for the last round of quality framework negotiations, he added.
The report blames the lack of recognition of allergy in primary care on minimal training of healthcare staff.
Dr Levy, who was previously the only GPSI in allergy in England, says if this general lack of knowledge is to be beaten, some GPs need to be specially trained to deal with allergies.
Select Committee Allergy report: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldsctech.htm
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