Children Removed from Allergy Waitlist as GPs Face Added Pressure
28 Oct 2026
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called on Canberra Health Services (CHS) to explain why hundreds of children have been removed from the public allergy waiting list and directed back to their GPs or paediatricians for care.
CHS recently sent letters to about 1,000 families, advising them that their children no longer met the updated criteria for an appointment at the Paediatric Allergy Clinic. Families were asked to speak with their GP or paediatrician about a suitable care plan.
The changes are part of a broader review of outpatient services aimed at helping patients who need specialist treatment access appointments sooner.
Around 65,000 people are currently waiting for outpatient appointments through CHS. Some patients on the allergy clinic waiting list face waits of more than six years.
The clinic is among the first services to have its referral criteria reviewed, with the existing rules described as outdated.
One affected parent, Dr Liz Allen, said she was shocked to learn that her nine-year-old daughter had been removed from the waiting list after waiting for three years.
Her daughter experienced an anaphylactic reaction in January 2024 after helping shell prawns. Since then, she has had several emergency department visits while waiting for an assessment by allergy specialists.
Dr Allen told newsGP that her family had been advised the average wait for a specialist paediatric allergy appointment was about two years. During that time, her daughter had experienced repeated reactions to allergens that had not been identified.
With other children in the family also affected by anaphylaxis, Dr Allen said she had relied on the expectation that her daughter would eventually receive specialist care.
However, she said the letter from CHS, addressed directly to her daughter, came without warning or prior communication.
Dr Allen said she had since learnt that other families whose children had experienced serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, had also been removed from the waiting list without consultation.
A CHS spokesperson said clinicians had reviewed and updated the clinic’s referral criteria and triage process. The service said key stakeholders had been informed before the letters were sent.
The spokesperson said some referrals had been closed because the children’s care could be managed safely through other options, including a GP, another allergy specialist or a paediatrician.
CHS also said GPs would continue to receive referral guidance, specialist advice and pathways for escalating cases when needed. The Government would consider ways to improve GPs’ access to specialist advice.
RACGP NSW and ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said families needed clear information and a reliable pathway to treatment.
She said families already faced considerable stress while waiting for specialist care. Removing children from the waiting list without sufficient explanation or consultation with the GPs expected to manage their care was concerning.
Dr Hoffman said GPs played an important role in supporting patients and coordinating treatment, but responsibility should not be transferred without involving the profession or ensuring suitable services were available.
She also warned that patients should not be removed from waiting lists simply because the health system could not meet demand.
Dr Allen later received information from CHS indicating that her daughter’s history of anaphylaxis and use of an EpiPen met the clinic’s updated criteria.
ACT Health Minister Dr Marisa Paterson said the Government and CHS needed better systems to identify patients on waiting lists, reduce delays to first appointments and review referral requirements.
Dr Paterson said children who had experienced anaphylaxis should be seen at the clinic. She encouraged families who remained concerned after their referrals were closed to contact CHS and request a review.
She also said GPs had been informed about the updated criteria and could help families understand whether a new referral was needed. Children referred back to the service would not lose their place in the queue.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright described the situation as unacceptable and said it highlighted the difficulties GPs faced when trying to access specialist services for their patients.
He said GPs were taking on additional care responsibilities but needed adequate funding, support and resources to manage patients safely.
Children Removed from Allergy Waitlist as GPs Face Added Pressure
Source: newsGP, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).