Text size: View this site with the standard text size View this site with a larger text size View this site with a very large text size

28th February 2006

Allergy UK are delighted to announce the formation of
‘PCAN’ - Primary Care Allergy Network.

Led by leading healthcare professionals involved in allergy at Primary Care level, the aim of PCAN is to improve standards of allergy services delivered in primary care with the following specific objectives:

    Short-term (12 months)

  1. To foster the development of a national clinical/scientific network for primary healthcare professionals/researchers with an interest in allergy.
  2. To create a national database of allergy trained healthcare professionals (including diploma- and degree-level) currently practising in primary care.
  3. To identify clinically-relevant and measurable allergy related outcomes that could be included in future revisions of the Quality and Outcomes Framework for the General Medical Services Contract for GPs.
  4. To work with allergy specialists to establish clinical supervision and mentoring opportunities for primary care practitioners where appropriate.
  5. To collate information on and promote postgraduate opportunities for primary care based clinicians to develop relevant the knowledge, skills and competencies to deliver high-quality allergy care.

    6. Medium-term (24 months)

  6. To produce a generic undergraduate module on allergy for medical, nursing studies and allied healthcare professional curricula that can be adapted in a bespoke fashion by higher educational institutions.
  7. To explore the possibility of developing a section on the NHS e-library on allergy.
  8. To create policy documents, training resources and accreditation procedures to facilitate the deployment of practitioners with specialist interests in allergy working at a regional level.
  9. To analyse the cost benefit of advancing allergy service development in primary care.

    10. Longer-term (36 months)

  10. To lobby for funding to support research on clinical and health services research questions in relation to the primary care based management of allergic conditions

PCAN are already working on several fronts to achieve the above detailed objectives, whilst at the same time seeking funding and infrastructure support to allow the achievement of the more long-term goals. For example, PCAN are aware of some 800 primary care professionals throughout the UK who have over the last decade received training to at least diploma level in allergy care, but very few of these trained practitioners have been able to function locally in a practitioner with specialist interest role.

PCAN are meeting in the near future with government representatives and will be pleased to have the opportunity to meet with professional, charitable sector and industry representatives who are willing to explore ways of working with us to help PCAN achieve their objectives.

For further information on PCAN please email PCAN@allergyuk.org

Or telephone Muriel Simmons, Allergy UK on 01322 619898.