Member's statement: Allergy Awareness Week: Anaphylaxis

Member's statement by Ms Claire Sugden on 21 April 2026.

MLA

Ms Claire Sugden

Party at the time

Independent

Date

21 April 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Allergy Awareness Week: Anaphylaxis

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5497476

Read the official Assembly record

Text

During Allergy Awareness Week, I want to highlight an issue that, whilst relatively uncommon in any individual school on any given day, can have serious consequences when it arises: severe food allergy and anaphylaxis in our schools. Anaphylaxis is not always obvious. We often think of severe breathing difficulties, but it can begin with more subtle signs: a child becoming dizzy or confused; having a persistent cough or hoarse voice; vomiting; swelling; having a rash; or simply not responding as they normally would. Those early signs matter, because, when a reaction takes hold, there is little time to act, and delay can have serious consequences. Children living with serious allergies are often capable of managing their condition. They understand the risks and the routine, but, in a severe reaction, they may not always be able to treat themselves. That is when adults around them need to step in quickly and with confidence, and that is where Northern Ireland falls short. In England, following the tragic death of Benedict Blythe, steps have been taken to place allergy safety in schools on a statutory footing, including access to emergency pens, staff training and clear school policies. Here, we still rely on guidance. The Department's position makes it clear that there is no overarching legal duty on school staff to administer medication and that staff may choose not to volunteer. That is not a criticism of teachers; it is recognition that we are asking them to carry a significant responsibility without consistently giving them clarity, training or legal support to do so. In our system, guidance alone is not enough. With different school sectors and boards of governors setting policies at their own local level, we inevitably end up with inconsistency. At present, it is largely treated as an individual medical issue for each child, managed through care plans in schools, but, when the risk is life-threatening and time-critical, it is no longer just an individual issue; it is a system-wide safety issue that requires a system-wide response. We have taken the same approach elsewhere: every school in Northern Ireland now has a defibrillator on site. We recognise that rare but critical incidents require preparation, consistency and confidence to act. Anaphylaxis deserves the same level of seriousness. There is also a wider concern. Where schools do not feel properly equipped or supported to manage serious medical conditions, we risk creating situations where children are not fully accommodated. In some cases, it may lead to reluctance to admit them to that school, and that raises real concerns about equality of access to education. We should not allow that position to develop. The lesson from Benedict's case in England is not about what went wrong but about what we can put right. It is about putting clear systems in place so that, when something happens, there is no hesitation and no uncertainty about what needs to be done in that moment.

486 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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