Two mothers whose daughters died from severe allergic reactions are calling for a national “allergy tsar”.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse and Emma Turay told Health Secretary Steve Barclay that the girls’ deaths “were entirely preventable” .
In a letter to the minister, they urged the Government to appoint “a champion for people with allergies”.
They said that despite warnings from coroners a “lack of national leadership” over the issue risked lives.
They told Mr Barclay previous Health Secretaries had ignored their plea for an allergy tsar, adding: “We have come together for change so our tragedies never happen again.”
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Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, from Fulham, West London, died in July 2016 following a severe allergic reaction to a Pret A Manger baguette containing sesame. After her death, all food outlets were told to provide a full ingredients list and allergy labelling on items pre-packed for direct sale.
Shante Turay-Thomas, 18, died after eating a hazelnut. A coroner put part of the blame on the fact an ambulance took more than 40 minutes to reach her home in Wood Green, North London. The mothers said an allergy tsar was vital as “no single person has overall responsibility for the well-being of allergy sufferers. There are no clear lines of accountability”.
The letter added: “Lack of leadership has been raised time and again by coroners. It was raised at the inquest of my daughter, Shante. The coroner stated: ‘There is a risk deaths will occur unless action is taken’.”
They want the tsar to push for more allergy clinics and to ensure sufferers get proper support and joined-up care.
The new leader should also ensure all acute anaphylaxis cases are treated as category 1 incidents (the most urgent) by ambulance crews. The letter said the “number living with allergic disease is mushrooming”.
The call for an allergy tsar is supported by the National Allergy Strategy Group and charities Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis UK.
The Government said: “We have taken action by introducing a legal requirement to display full ingredient and allergen information.
“Leadership on food allergies is provided by the clinical reference group for specialised allergy and immunology services.”
Today MPs will debate two petitions relating to food labelling and care for people with allergies.
