Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 156, inclusive, together.
Allergies arise from a very wide variety of causes and affect individuals in many different ways. Therefore, beyond advising sufferers to keep in close contact with their general practitioners or hospital consultants about their own particular situation, it is difficult to set down a general policy position which would adequately reflect the full range of situations which can arise.
There is no consultant in the public acute hospital sector specialising solely in allergies and anaphylaxis. A range of consultants such as immunologists, respiratory physicians, dermatologists and others deal with allergy conditions relating to their speciality.
As regards food allergies, my Department has written to the health boards and voluntary hospitals alerting them to the problem of food allergies and outlining such issues as the likely symptoms and the appropriate treatment of patients presenting allergic reactions. My Department asked the health boards and voluntary hospitals to bring its correspondence in relation to food allergies to the attention of all appropriate medical personnel in the relevant hospital or health board area, including, in particular, general practitioners.