Allergy concern leads to Downing Street Petition

In Spring 2007 the Surrey Federation of Women's Institutes voted to campaign for the return of allergy testing to all GP surgeries. During the year thousands of WI members across the country signed a petition in support of this cause. On 24 January 2008 at 12 noon women from Thames Ditton WI in Surrey will be at 10, Downing Street to hand in the amassed petitions.

Thames Ditton's WI says that allergies in the UK are at epidemic levels and doctors report that children suffer the most. Not only that, but the UK has one of the highest levels of allergy in the world yet only 4% of GPs test for allergy triggers when making a diagnosis. No wonder there's an epidemic. This is unacceptable. Doctors need to return to practices of twenty years ago when allergy testing was commonplace in order to stop the allergy epidemic. Allergy testing is cost effective; one simple allergy test costs the NHS 15p.

The women want an immediate return to allergy testing to stop the allergy epidemic. To press their case further, Thames Ditton WI have also submitted a memorandum on this issue to the House of Commons Health Committee's investigation into inequalities in healthcare.

Visit the allergy website to see two short videos demonstrating why doctors are concerned and why the women are campaigning.

Contact campaigner Nell Nockles on 020 8398 6669 or email for more information.

By taking the petitions to Downing Street the WI are following the advice of Edwina Currie. Mrs. Currie was a Junior Health Minister (late 1980s) when the Government decided to withdraw support for all allergy testing in GP surgeries because of harm caused by some procedures referred to as 'allergy challenges'. Skin prick testing is not in this category, but was dismissed as well. Allergy problems have increased dramatically since the late 1980's.

Mrs Currie spoke to the WI at a Surrey Federation WI Group Meeting in Surbiton, November 2007