Primary care respiratory journal : journal of the General Practice Airways Group
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Concerns have been expressed by patient and professional bodies, and the UK Parliamentary Health Select Committee, about the poor standard of allergy teaching in UK medical schools. It is argued that this deficiency is an important contributing factor to the generally poor quality of care experienced by patients with allergic disorders. Allergy services are currently being reviewed by the Scottish Executive and Department of Health for England. ⋯ Although formal teaching on allergic disorders has been identified in a number of modules throughout the five years, it is not comprehensively described in the course documentation and significant gaps exist. We accept that the delivered curriculum may not be captured by the level of detail present in the learning objectives and recommend that further mapping and triangulation is undertaken through student focus groups and information gathering from teaching staff. We also recommend that in the absence of informal and clinical attachment opportunities in allergic disorders, the stated learning objectives be developed into a coherent vertical element throughout the medical curriculum. This, together with an advocate and suitable assessment, would increase the impact of allergy training on students and emphasise the knowledge and skills required to deliver high quality allergy care.