§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much NHS funding is provided for the diagnosis and treatment of allergies; what plans he has to increase this amount; and if he will make a statement; [153364]
(2) what special NHS treatment centres are available for people with allergies in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire. [153365]
§ Dr. LadymanInformation on national health service funding for the diagnosis and treatment of allergies is not collected centrally. Health authorities (HAs) and primary care trusts receive unified allocations to cover the costs of hospital and community health services, discretionary funding for general practice staff, premises and computers and primary care prescribing.
1404WThe level of funding made available for the drugs, staffing and other costs of providing allergy services are determined locally. It is for HAs, in partnership with other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to provide health services for their populations including those with allergies.
The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology handbook, "National NHS Allergy Clinics" (2001), lists 86 NHS consultant-led clinics in the United Kingdom. There were an additional 15 clinics run by NHS consultants identified by the British Allergy Foundation in the handbook.