Have your say on the future of allergy services for children and adults in the North West
Join us on Saturday 26th June 2010 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington from 2pm to learn more from NHS allergy experts about the latest developments for people living with allergies in the region. We want your views to help shape our plans.
It is a fact that the number of cases of common allergic diseases like asthma, eczema, hayfever and (potentially life-threatening) allergic reactions to foods like nuts is rising among both adults and children. There is also an added challenge to allergy treatment, as many people suffer from a number of related conditions and multiple allergies.
You may be interested to know that NHS organisations in the North West are leading a national pilot scheme, working with healthcare workers both in the communities and hospitals where you live to improve the diagnosis and on-going care of people with allergies. So far, over £1 million has been spent to improve allergy and immunology services for patients across the region.
Eventually, it is hoped we'll produce a model for allergy and immunology care that can be rolled out to those parts of the country that would benefit from improvement. This means that all eyes are on us to do a good job. Some of our plans for the region include:
Encouraging doctors and nurses from different hospitals across the region to work together - some of them for the first time to ensure that the vast majority of patients are treated nearer to their homes.
- Providing extra education and training of our GPs and support nurses.
- Setting up a 'virtual allergy centre' with 'hubs' in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, which would include not only specialist allergists and immunologists, but also specially trained nurses who could work out in the community, sharing their specialist knowledge and skills.
Mandy East from the National Allergy Strategy Group will be chairing the event. To book your place, or for more information, call Mandy on 01252 893850 or email mandy@nasg.org.uk
