Allergy community welcomes plans to include allergies in new single patient record

Allergy UK is today welcoming plans to include allergies in the new NHS Single Patient Record, marking a major milestone in the charity’s long-standing campaign for a National Allergy Register.

The Government has confirmed that the Health Bill being debated by MPs today will introduce a Single Patient Record, giving clinicians across England a complete view of patients’ medicines, allergies and prescribing history.

Allergy UK, the leading national charity for people living with allergic disease, has long called for the creation of a National Allergy Register to ensure that accurate allergy information is consistently recorded and accessible across the health system.

Today’s announcement represents a significant step towards delivering the principle at the heart of that campaign: that every patient’s allergy history should follow them throughout their care journey. This should include where they are seen by a GP, pharmacist, nurse, hospital doctor, specialist clinician or emergency care team.

The inclusion of allergy information within the Single Patient Record will also give patients more control over their own care. By being able to access and check their own allergy records, patients and families will be able to better understand their condition, identify missing or outdated information, and share accurate details when moving between services or seeing new healthcare professionals.

Allergy UK’s latest Freedom of Information research found that 79% of Integrated Care Boards do not hold meaningful data on allergy prevalence in their region, leaving many patients effectively invisible in the healthcare system. It has consistently warned that this makes it harder for local NHS leaders to plan services, understand need and commission appropriate allergy care in the community.

If implemented effectively, embedding allergy information within the Single Patient Record can help to address these shortfalls by creating a more consistent national picture of allergy prevalence and care needs. This will be vital not only for improving patient safety, but also for supporting the Government’s wider ambitions to shift more care into the community, strengthen prevention and ensure services are planned around patients’ needs.

Simone Miles, Chief Executive of Allergy UK, said “This is a hugely significant moment for the millions of people living with allergies across the country. Allergy UK has long called for a National Allergy Register because accurate, accessible allergy information saves lives. Including allergies within the Single Patient Record is a major step forward for patient safety, safer prescribing and giving patients greater control over their own care. We are grateful to the Government for recognising the importance of allergy data and look forward to helping ministers ensure this delivers real improvements for patients as swiftly as possible.