Memorandum by Dr Alaisdair Stewart MD
FRCP (AL 66)
I am pleased to see that you are enquiring
about the provision of allergy services in this country. As one
of the first, and still the few, who have been specifically trained
in allergy I had great difficulties in finding a Consultant post
and eventually became a Chest Consultant and then used my skills
in allergy to set up an allergy service for the people of Kent.
Despite much badgering I eventually managed to achieve funding
to see four new allergy patients a fortnight. This is funded now
by one of the local PCTs but I am the only service in Kent and
as such technically provide a service for 1.7 million people.
As you would imagine the demand for an allergy clinic has been
high and for a time our waiting lists lengthened to 70 weeks.
That was not acceptable, but despite pleading, no additional funds
were found.
In order to meet the Government targets my Trust
has at its own cost and risk put on additional allergy clinics
such that we now see 10 new patients a week. This has occurred
without any additional funding. It is happened as additional work
on top of my already busy week. Whilst I am happy to expand allergy
services further I do feel that it is about time that the Department
of Health and the Commissioners accept that there is an allergy
need out there and funded it appropriately.
I work in a Trust which is year on year over
spent. We are often over spent because of the additional work
that we are putting on without funding. I look forward to hearing
the deliberations of your Committee.
May 2004
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