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Identifying and Prioritising BSACI Service Standards for Paediatric Allergy in the United Kingdom
Paul J Turner1, Elizabeth Angier2, Karen Brunas3
1Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust/Imperial College London, London, UK.
Insights
Rising demand for pediatric allergy services necessitates updated standards. This study identified 17 strategic priorities for high-quality pediatric allergy care accreditation, focusing on multidisciplinary teams and early interventions.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Healthcare Service Delivery
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of pediatric allergy diagnoses requires enhanced healthcare services.
- Existing standards from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) need updating due to strategic NHS changes.
- A collaborative project between RCPCH and the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) was initiated to redefine pediatric allergy care priorities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define service priorities for Paediatric Allergy Care accreditation in the UK.
- To establish a framework for high-quality care for children and young people with allergic diseases.
- To address the growing demand and evolving landscape of pediatric allergy services.
Main Methods:
- Developed 29 potential service standards by a BSACI working group.
- Consulted BSACI members to identify initial priorities.
- Prioritized standards using a methodology adapted from the James Lind Alliance with 24 diverse stakeholders.
Main Results:
- Identified 17 strategic priorities across 6 themes: service delivery, prevention, diagnostics, management, communication, and education.
- Key priorities include multidisciplinary team staffing, prompt management of complex allergies, regional network collaboration, and integrated care pathways.
- Emphasized supporting early interventions for atopic disease and facilitating smooth transitions to adult care.
Conclusions:
- The identified priorities provide a foundation for delivering high-quality pediatric allergy care.
- These standards aim to improve service delivery, patient outcomes, and healthcare professional education in pediatric allergy.
- The collaborative approach ensures comprehensive and patient-centered priorities for accreditation.
Background:
Demand for paediatric allergy services has risen significantly over the past 20 years. National health datasets suggest almost 40% of children have an allergy diagnosis. Existing service standards from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have focused on specific disease care pathways and the interface between primary and secondary care services. Given strategic changes to NHS children and young people's services, we undertook a collaborative project between RCPCH and the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) to define service priorities for Paediatric Allergy Care accreditation in the UK.
Methods:
A BSACI working group developed 29 potential service standards. A consultation was then undertaken amongst BSACI members to identify indicative priorities. Potential standards were then prioritised using methodology adapted from the James Lind Alliance, by 24 stakeholders representing patients/patient groups (9), commissioners (2) and healthcare professionals (13).
Results:
Seventeen strategic priorities were identified, under the following 6 themes: service delivery, prevention, diagnostics, management, communication, maintaining standards/education. These included: setting a minimum staffing mix for multidisciplinary teams providing paediatric allergy care (medical specialist(s), specialist nurse, dietitian, health psychologist); prompt recognition and management of complex, multisystem allergic disease; working within a regional network to ensure access to specialist paediatric allergy services; use of integrated care pathways and supporting primary care accordingly; supporting early access to interventions proven to reduce the risk of atopic disease (with consideration to potential barriers to access, including language, cultural, socioeconomic factors and other communication barriers); offering a referral pathway for disease-modifying treatment where appropriate and effective transitioning to adult care.
Conclusions:
These priorities form a basis for the delivery of high-quality care to children and young people affected by allergic disease.
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