Families call for stronger allergy protections in NI schools

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Families call for stronger allergy protections in NI schools7 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GooglePaddy MageeBBC News NI Family HandoutBenedict Blythe had an anaphylactic reaction at school in December 2021The mother of a boy who died after a severe allergic reaction in school is pressing for new legislation to protect pupils in Northern Ireland schools. Helen Blythe has been campaigning for a law that would see compulsory training for teachers and a requirement for each school to have a dedicated allergy policy. Her five-year-old son Benedict died after accidental exposure to an allergen - cow's milk protein - at a school in England in December 2021.

Her campaign has resulted in new legislation, Benedict's Law, for schools in England. Blythe was due to have a face-to-face meeting with Education Minister Paul Givan on Monday evening but she said she was told he was "too busy" to attend. "What's difficult for us and for those families is that a lot of this rests on the shoulders of the minister and unfortunately we've not seen the engagement from the minister that we would like," she said.

The Details

"We travelled from England to meet the minster as well as to attend this strategy launch and to see that lack of regard for the number of families that are sharing their story and are at home with children with allergies is a really difficult thing to hear. "Hopefully there is a change and he will come to the table". The Department of Education said assembly business was delayed and the education minister was in the chamber at 17:00 for the second stage of the Education Inspections Bill.

"Officials met with Helen and explained that, while the minister was unable to leave the chamber, he would be happy to meet after proceedings ended," they said. "After proceedings finished, the minister was able to meet with parents and representatives from the National Allergy Strategy Group, including Professor Adam Fox and Dr Caoimhe Glancy from Children's Allergy Clinic NI, who were at an event in Parliament Buildings. "According to the Department of Education, Northern Ireland schools currently rely on guidance rather than law, meaning allergy safety measures can vary from school to school.

Some families here have called for change. Family HandoutHelen Blythe described Benedict as "a little boy who was very caring and liked looking out for others"What happened to Benedict? Blythes' son was a pupil at Barnack Primary School, between Stamford and Peterborough.

What Experts Say

An inquest jury found the school did not follow all the measures in place to prevent the fatal anaphylactic reaction - and there were risks of contamination with other milk and delays in administering an adrenaline pen. "We knew that he had allergies and multiple allergies and we communicated that to the school when he started," she told News NI. "The plan that we had provided to the school wasn't communicated to the staff members caring for him.

There weren't spare adrenaline auto-injectors.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.