Memorandum by Dr Edward Kaminski and Christine
Symons (AL 39)
In 1996, I was appointed as the first Immunologist
in Devon and Cornwall. My clinical remit includes Cornwall (Truro),
South and West Devon (Plymouth and Torbay), East Devon (Exeter)
but not North Devon (Barnstaple). At the time of my appointment
there were a number of organ based specialists providing allergy
services and these were predominantly ENT surgeons, Respiration
Medicine Specialists and Dermatologists. Since 1996, there has
been a dramatic increase in the availability of allergy services
by clinicians who have received significant training in allergy
and whose workload includes a significant number of allergy cases.
The following is attempt at summarizing the services provided
in Devon and Cornwall.
PROVISION OF
GENERAL SERVICES
WITH AN
ALLERGIC COMPONENT
Asthma—this is generally dealt with by
respiratory physicians at all four sites.
Eczema—this is generally dealt with by
Dermatologists and Paediatricians at all four sites.
Rhinitis—this is generally dealt with
by ENT physicians at all four sites.
PROVISION OF
MORE SPECIALIZED
ALLERGY SERVICES
Exeter:
— Mr Richard Garth, Consultant ENT
Physician—ENT allergy, desensitization for bee, wasp and
grass pollen allergy.
— Dr Andrew Collinson, Consultant Paediatrician—paediatric
allergy.
Plymouth:
— Dr Edward Kaminski, Consultant Immunologist—general
and specialised allergy (sees referrals for difficult adult cases
from most of Devon and Cornwall).
— Second Consultant Immunologist—general
and specialized allergy (appointment to be made soon).
— Sr Christine Symons, Immunology Specialist
nurse—runs nurse-led clinic.
— Dr Clive McGavin, Consultant Respiratory
Physician—respiratory allergy and desensitization for bee,
wasp and grass pollen allergy.
— Dr Alan Cade, Consultant Paediatrician—paediatric
allergy.
— Prof Stephen Strobel, Paediatric
Immunologist from GOS (recently appointed)—paediatric allergy.
Torbay:
— Dr New Sue, Associate Specialist
in Paediatrics—paediatric allergy.
Truro:
— Dr David Gould, Consultant Dermatologist—general
allergy, desensitization for bee and wasp allergy.
— Dr Richard Sporik, Consultant Paediatrician—paediatric
allergy.
I have been working alongside the Consultant
Immunologist, Dr E R Kaminski at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth,
since the beginning of 1996. In that time we have seen countless
people with allergy many of whom have waited for considerable
lengths of time to see us. Very often the patients' main complaints
are that GPs underestimate the severity of their symptoms or the
impact on their quality of life which delays their referral. In
addition waiting times to see a specialist have increased over
the period. All are relieved to have finally seen someone to confirm
a diagnosis of allergy and to receive advice about treatment and
how to live with what, in some cases, is a life-threatening disease.
In addition to our service, other physicians in the South West
do see patients with allergy; I have also been offering a Nurse-led
Allergy clinic for the past three and a half years.
Over the eight years that I have been looking
after people with allergy, one of the major concerns of those
with a food allergy is the poor labelling of food products which
makes food shopping such a nightmare for them. There needs to
be a better way of warning people that a food does or does not
contain the ingredient they are allergic to—the current
labels are often misleading and inappropriate.
Sadly, many of our patients have sought private
consultations with "alternative" practitioners charging
high prices because of the long wait to see anyone on the NHS.
These people can give inaccurate diagnoses and advice which may
adversely affect the health of those who have consulted them.
I would like to see better regulation of those who set themselves
up as advisers in this way.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
I hope I can look forward to a dramatic improvement in the recognition
of Allergy as a serious health problem with the Services needed
to improve the lives of those with Allergy undergoing a radical
reappraisal as a result of this Committee.
May 2004
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