I have just reduced myself to tears with frustration at the GP

[IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo]

I would go straight for Bupa if I had the money and didn't have to go pass through the GPs every time I need help with DS's allergies.

And then there is my stupid hospital brandishing the marketing flag that they are seeing all patients within six months of referal (6 months my ar*e!)

Isabel give your paediatrician a ring. If your child hasn't been discharged by the paediatrician he may, as you say he's nice, agree to arrange another appointment without another gp referral. When we had a good consultant we were told to phone him anytime we had a problem. They CAN do that because they can arrange a follow up appointment without a new referral.

Thatsallfolks - can you name the lovely doctor as they may get more customers . The nurse should have been reported as that behaviour was a disgrace. The school nurse is actually a bit more understandable because the usual consultant advice is if in any doubt use an epipen. I used to try antihistamine on my child if we didn't believe they'd been exposed to peanut. Then we had one reaction where it just didn't work and we needed the epipen. It was very scary. Epipens don't harm your child - if they are having a reaction they are too scared to really feel it. Now I would give the pen sooner.

Every time the anaphylaxis campaign lobbies Parliament I join in. I write a personal letter to my MP about our experiences and I have given the AC permission to use our story. My child doesn't want their picture in newspapers/magazines or I would go to the press too.

It's possible if we all wrote to the medical colleges we might get some better training for gps, must have a think about the best college to approach. We could also let the paeds now how useless they are, although I confes I haven't told mine in acse we need to see him again. I did write the AC a comparison of an allergy consultant and a paed for them to use next time they have a campaign. I urge you both to send them your experiences.

Tatt et al, I think I'm going to contact you to see if we can organise something.