Vol. 476 No. 7
152 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will assist people here to establish an anaphylaxis campaign association and provide funding for the establishment of such a campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8272/97]
153 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if there is any national allergy clinic here; and, if not, if he intends to establish one. [8273/97]
154 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the level of allergy awareness here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8274/97]
155 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if there is any full-time dedicated consultant working in the public health sector dealing with allergies and anaphylaxis. [8275/97]
156 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Health if a national anaphylaxis campaign has been arranged to educate the public about life threatening food allergies, highlighting the importance of avoiding the allergen and the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis; to make all health professionals, especially general practitioners, aware of potentially lethal food allergies; to encourage high-profile research into causes of allergy, possible prevention and active treatment of allergies; to introduce new legislation compelling all catering outlets to give customers access to a full list of ingredients contained in any food or drink on sale; and to prepare legislation governing packaged food to address the inadequate and often misleading labelling system which exists. [8276/97]
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.
