Widening access to penicillin allergy assessment in the United Kingdom-a proposed implementation plan for the National Health Service (NHS). [Review]

Porter, CE.; Roleston, C.; Bethune, C.; Boards, J.; Brown, CS.; Clarke, I.; Fielding, J.; Howard, P.; Jamieson, C.; Misbah, SA.; Moss, AC.; Pavitt, SH.; Powell, N.; Savic, L.; Savic, S.; Krishna, MT.; Tonkin-Crine, S.; Williams, I.; A T Sandoe, J.

Widening access to penicillin allergy assessment in the United Kingdom-a proposed implementation plan for the National Health Service (NHS). [Review]

All Authors

Porter, CE.

Roleston, C.

Bethune, C.

Boards, J.

Brown, CS.

Clarke, I.

Fielding, J.

Howard, P.

Jamieson, C.

Misbah, SA.

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LTHT Author

Savic, Louise
Savic, Sinisa
Sandoe, Jonathan

LTHT Department

Theatres & Anaesthetics
Anaesthesia
Pathology
Clinical Immunology & Allergy
Microbiology

Publication Date

2026

Item Type

Journal Article
Review

Subject

ANTI-BACTERIAL AGENTS , ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS , PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOME MEASURES , UNITED KINGDOM , PATIENT SAFETY

Abstract

Globally, there is increasing evidence that incorrect penicillin allergy labels negatively affect patient outcomes, antibiotic prescribing and antimicrobial resistance, leading to growing concern about this patient safety issue and how to resolve it. While many millions of patients worldwide have incorrect penicillin allergy labels, there are too few specialist allergists and a lack of 'point-of-care' tests to address this problem. Numerous research studies now provide evidence of the feasibility and importance of widening access to penicillin allergy assessment. Researchers from two UK-based studies (SPACE and ALABAMA), in collaboration with key stakeholders including patient representatives, gave their views to shape a high-level implementation plan to facilitate widening access to penicillin allergy assessment in the UK. This Viewpoint describes the basis of the implementation plan and summarizes the key actions required for successful delivery. While the plan is intended for the UK, we hope to promote international shared learning and collaboration to address this global problem informed by the UK context. Copyright © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.