Pharmacists left to plug ‘major gaps’ in allergy care, charity warns

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, co-founder of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, has called for the appointment of an allergy tsar, who could advocate for allergy training for all healthcare professionals.

Shelf of allergy treatments in pharmacy — The National Allergy Strategy cited evidence that suggests only one-fifth of patients are educated about managing their allergy symptoms correctly

Inadequate allergy training for healthcare professionals leaves pharmacists “on the front line”, covering “major gaps in a dangerously patchy” healthcare system, the founder of a national allergy foundation has warned.

The comments follow the publication of the National Allergy Strategy on 20 April 2026, which said allergy training for healthcare professionals — including pharmacists — is “inconsistent”.

The strategy was developed by the National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG), which includes the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the patient charities Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis UK and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF).

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, co-founder and trustee of NARF, told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “Pharmacists are often at the front line of allergy care, dispensing vital advice and devices such as adrenaline pens and inhalers to people with allergies who may only rarely see another healthcare professional.

“Allergy training of NHS healthcare professionals is currently inadequate: mandatory allergy training has only recently been introduced to the GP curriculum, and we need at least another 200 specialist allergists, according to the Royal College of Physicians. This means pharmacists are inevitably being left to plug major gaps in a dangerously patchy and inadequate healthcare system.”

NASG’s strategy has also highlighted the need for all healthcare professionals to be up-skilled in allergy care, suggesting that community pharmacists, in particular, would benefit from training on allergy over-the-counter products and self-care.

“Standard drugs, such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays, which are mostly available to buy without prescriptions in pharmacies, are cheap and effective if used correctly,” it said.

“Correct treatment of allergic rhinitis can greatly improve quality of life. However, studies have shown that only one individual out of five is educated about managing their symptoms correctly.

“Providing training to pharmacists and staff in general practice can be very helpful in improving the management of the vast majority of these individuals who do not need to see a specialist.

“Basic skills are often missing in community settings, including correct inhaler/nasal spray technique education, training on how to use self-administered adrenaline, trigger avoidance counselling, and food label literacy,” the strategy added.

Ednan-Laperouse commented: “Allergy training for healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, must become far more consistent and robust.”

She added that the charity wanted to see the appointment of an allergy tsar, who could advocate for allergy training for all healthcare professionals.

“Since 2020, [the NARF] has funded almost 100 student bursaries to help create the next generation of allergy specialists, including in pharmacy. We now need leadership from government to turn the National Allergy Strategy into a reality, including the appointment of a national lead to oversee allergy services.”

Commenting on the strategy, a spokesperson for PAGB, which represents the manufacturers of branded over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, pointed out that several OTC companies provide “high-quality guideline-based training and education for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals through CPD modules on OTC allergy management”.

“Such modules provide information on the types of allergies that can be treated within the OTC environment and both the medical and scientific basis for reactions, as well as potential treatment options. They also offer guidance on interactions with patients, these are usually through dedicated digital pharmacy hubs, learning platforms and HCP publications,” they added.

“OTC management represents one end of a broad spectrum of allergy care. Therefore, ensuring pharmacists are aware of the resources available is key in enabling ongoing knowledge and management in relation to the OTC offerings and treatments that are available within the pharmacy setting.”