Concern over allergy care as figures reveal Scots patients sent to hospitals in England

But figures obtained through Freedom of Information legislation highlight deficiencies in allergy-related services for adults within the Scottish NHS.

Maureen Jenkins, of campaign group Allergy UK, said the inadequate nature of adult allergy services in Scotland was “shocking” and a “huge concern”.

She added: “We’ve got some of the best allergy researchers in Scotland, but not clinical services."

NHS Lothian has been responsible for the most referrals, sending patients to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle 92 times since 2012.

NHS Fife sent 24 patients south of the Border last year and a small number during the previous two years, while NHS Highland has sent eight patients to Newcastle and London for a total of 13 appointments.

Both NHS Tayside and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have also sent small numbers of patients to English hospitals.

NHS Lothian said that it had no adult immunology service and there was no capacity in other Scottish health boards, so patients were referred to the Immunology and Allergy Unit at the Royal Victoria in Newcastle.

But a spokesman added: “This situation will change in February 2016 when an immunologist will start in the vacant post.”

NHS Fife said it did not currently provide a specialised immunology service: “Whilst we always strive to ensure patients are treated as close to their home as possible, our neighbouring boards did not have the capacity to provide specialist immunology services during this time period.”

NHS Highland said patients with allergies could be treated by dermatologists or in general medicine, but added: “If the patient requires further treatment outside the scope of our clinical expertise, this is when we would consider referring the patient to an allergy specialist outside of our area.”

Scotland’s allergy services were the subject of reviews in 2003 and 2009, which found that service provision was failing to meet patients’ needs. A lack of hospital consultants and inadequate training of GPs and other healthcare professionals were identified as problems.

While children’s services have improved since the Children and Young People’s Allergy Network Scotland was set up in 2011, campaigners remain concerned about adult services.

There is no dedicated allergist for adults in Scotland, with dermatologists, immunologists and respiratory specialists providing the services. In England, there are a number of allergists, mainly in the south east.

Ms Jenkins said: “Consultant-level allergists would make a difference because their time is dedicated to seeing these patients.”

Often patients with allergies had symptoms that cut across a number of other specialisms.

Lynne Regent, chief executive of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said that there were excellent allergy services provided by other organ specialists, but the service required development. “Adults between 16 and 25 are the most at risk group," she said.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume said: "It is hard to see why people suffering with potentially life-threatening allergies should be forced to travel hundreds of miles to receive the specialist treatment that they need.

"Ministers need to work with health boards to improve these services.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Consultant-led adult immunodeficiency and allergy services in Scotland are provided by NHS Grampian, NHS Tayside and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

"A service will be available in NHS Lothian by Spring 2016 following the appointment of a consultant immunologist.

“For some rare conditions where there are very small numbers of patients, highly specialised immunodeficiency and allergy services are provided outwith Scotland to ensure that the highly specialised care they need is as safe, effective and sustainable as possible.”