Summary

Researchers have been trying to make better use of existing NHS data. In 2006, The Information Centre for health and social care commissioned an assessment of patterns allergic diseases in patients diagnosed in primary care England.

This five year report is based on an analysis of a new primary care database called QRESEARCH and it will assist the government in the policy decision process and around the development of standards and services for this area of healthcare.

The IC's chief executive, Professor Denise Lievesley, said: "There is a strongly held view among clinical specialists that there is a large and increasing burden of illness due to allergic conditions. The overall aim of this report is to describe the epidemiology and use of primary care services for patients with allergic disease to inform a national review of allergy services. In order to plan and commission NHS services appropriately, we need the best possible information on the need for additional care."

Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox, director of QRESEARCH (a joint University of Nottingham and EMIS partnership) said: "This is the largest most detailed evaluation of allergic diseases ever to be conducted in primary care internationally and the analysis was only possible because thousands of family doctors freely contribute data for medical research. The rapidly changing disease patterns described in the report highlight the need for ongoing surveillance in this area, and suggest that services will need to continue to evolve over the next few decades to meet the anticipated growing disease burden posed by allergic problems."