The North West of England is the third largest region and is home to nearly seven million people, or one eighth of the UK population. There are one and a half million children in the region, of which at least one quarter will have allergy.

 The North West children’s allergy network is a pioneering collaboration between doctors and nurses with a special interest in allergy from around the region. Our team of specialists extend from the Wirral in the west to Manchester in the East, and Morecambe in the north to Macclesfield in the south. Our aim is to ensure that health care workers, not only in tertiary centres but also in the community and GP surgeries, who look after children with allergies, receive the necessary information and training to provide the best care. Empowering GPs and community health care workers will ensure that most children with allergies can be managed as close to their homes as possible.

 For children with more severe or unusual allergies, specialist centres at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Alder-Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool as well as in key District General Hospitals (Morecombe, Preston, Wigan, Arrowe-Park, Macclesfield) provide a one stop shop with input from specialist doctors, nurses and dietitians. Specialists from the tertiary centres visit these key district general hospitals on a monthly basis to ensure high quality of care for all. Research and audit within the network will shape future therapies and management pathways.