Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Monday, 7 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 March 2011. It was answered by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 March 2011 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Hay Fever

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department (a) has issued and (b) plans to issue to (i) GPs and (ii) hospitals on the treatment of patients suffering with hay fever; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Guidance to general practitioners is available from ““Clinical Knowledge Summaries””, a collection of guidelines maintained by NHS Evidence and available on their website at:"http://www.cks.nhs.uk/allergic_rhinitis"More detailed clinical guidelines on the treatment of patients suffering with hay fever are available from the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (January 2008) and from an international group (the ““ARIA”” guidelines, revised June 2010). The Department has no plans to issue guidance in this area.

Secondary information