Benedict Blythe’s parents call for spare allergy pens in schools

A mother is urging the Government to “act immediately” to roll out replacement allergy pens in schools after her five-year-old son died following a reaction to cow’s milk.

Benedict Blythe, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, died in hospital after collapsing at Barnack Primary School in December 2021. An inquest heard late administration of his adrenaline pen was a factor in his death.

His mother, Helen Blythe, said: “No parent should lose a child because medication was not there when it was needed. The solutions exist. What’s missing is action. »

The Department for Education said it was “working across government to consider how we could expand the availability of allergy pens in schools”.

Benedict suffered from asthma and a number of food allergies, including eggs, nuts, kiwis and milk.

Her parents had worked with the school to develop a personal allergy action plan and a specific process for storing, preparing and providing oat milk to the student.

In July, an inquest jury investigating Benedict’s death found that the school had failed to follow all measures in place to prevent his death following a fatal anaphylactic reaction to cow’s milk he was accidentally given.

This included delays in administering her medications, Ms Blythe said.

At the time, Ms Blythe called for a new “Benedict’s Law” to ensure schools have adequate allergy plans for children and said her son’s death was “preventable and caused by a cascade of failures”.

The Benedict Blythe Foundation, established by Ms Blythe, has published new research with Professor Paul Turner, of Imperial College London, and the National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG) in the Archives of Disease In Childhood, a peer-reviewed journal.

The study says putting replacement allergy pens in every UK school could not only save lives, but also reduce NHS medicine waste, be logistically simpler, improve access to emergency departments and be cost neutral for most NHS integrated care boards.

This could save the government at least £4.6 million a year, the foundation said.

“Despite clear evidence and savings that would fully fund the “Benedict Law,” the Ministry of Education has yet to act, leaving students starting school this year at risk,” the text adds.

Ms Blythe said: “The evidence is now published, peer-reviewed and indisputable – and yet nothing has changed.

“Another school year has begun and children are still going to class with no guaranteed access to adrenaline.

“The Department for Education had this evidence before Benedict’s inquiry in July. They know what needs to be done, but schools remain under-equipped.”

Peter Blythe, Benedict’s father, said: “The savings identified are more than enough to fund national allergy training, emergency planning and policy development in schools.

“It is financially sound, evidence-based and morally urgent.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “What happened to Benedict was a tragedy for his family and our thoughts are with everyone who loved him.

“To put an end to allergies stopping children feeling safe at school, we plan to consult on strengthened guidance later this year and are working across government to consider how we could expand the availability of allergy pens in schools.”