I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this very important issue, to ask the Minister for an update on initiatives being undertaken to raise awareness, provide education and deliver supports re the incidence and impact of anaphylaxis.
We do not have accurate data in Ireland as to the exact incidence of it. We know, however, that admissions to hospitals due to allergic reactions has risen by more than 700% in Britain from the late 1990s, partly due to increased medical awareness. However, it was mostly due to an increase in the actual incidence of reactions, according to Professor Jonathan Hourihane. Again, this is a pattern that has been repeated internationally. Internationally hospital admissions for food allergies among children have risen by 500% in the past 20 years. There is anecdotal evidence to the effect that they have risen similarly in Ireland, but we do not have data. One of the reasons we do not is due to the absence of postgraduate allergist training for medical doctors in this field. In fact there are very few.
There are 300 children on a waiting list. It will take several years, at the present rate, even to assess them. If a child is put on a waiting list today for assessment, it will be at least a year before he or she will be called, yet we know that extreme reactions to allergies such as anaphylaxis in addition to being life threatening also have direct implications for a person's ongoing health quality and wellbeing. In the case of a child it has an impact on how he or she is doing at school, yet we know that if we increase awareness and education while also increasing investment on the preventative side, there will be an immediate result in terms of improved health, better quality of life and improved school performance. Most significantly from an economic perspective it would dramatically decrease health costs.
One of the areas about which Professor Hourihane is particularly vocal is the enormous need to identify what supports can be provided in schools. We know that in every school, apart from the very smallest, one will find children with allergies and reactions. I am asking the Minister whether there will be a link between the HSE and the Department of Education and Children, through the schools, to try to ensure a greater level of awareness and support in order that an early interventionist and preventative approach may be taken, particularly for children who have these allergies, when we will see the knock-on benefits.