Mother Calls for Allergy Pens in Schools After Five-Year-Old’s Death
A mother is urging the government to act urgently to ensure spare adrenaline allergy pens are available in schools, following the death of her five-year-old son after an allergic reaction.
Benedict Blythe, from Stamford in Lincolnshire, collapsed at Barnack Primary School in December 2021 after suffering an anaphylactic reaction to cow’s milk and later died in hospital. An inquest concluded that delays in administering his adrenaline pen were a contributing factor in his death.
His mother, Helen Blythe, said no family should have to endure such a loss. “No parent should lose a child because medication wasn’t there when it was needed. The solutions exist. What’s missing is action,” she said.
Benedict had asthma and multiple food allergies, including to milk, eggs, nuts and kiwi fruit. His parents had worked closely with the school to put in place a detailed allergy action plan, including specific arrangements for storing and providing oat milk.
However, a jury at the inquest in July found the school did not fully follow the measures designed to prevent a fatal allergic reaction, including delays in administering his medication after he was accidentally given cow’s milk.
Benedicts Law
Following the inquest, Mrs Blythe renewed calls for “Benedict’s Law” – a proposal to ensure schools have robust allergy policies and guaranteed access to emergency medication. She described her son’s death as “preventable” and the result of a “cascade of failures”.
In Benedict’s memory, his family established the Benedict Blythe Foundation, which has now published new research in collaboration with Professor Paul Turner of Imperial College London and the National Allergy Strategy Group. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, concludes that placing spare adrenaline pens in every UK school could save lives and reduce NHS medication waste.
The research suggests the policy would be simpler to manage, improve emergency access to life-saving medication and be cost-neutral for most NHS Integrated Care Boards. It estimates the government could save at least £4.6 million a year.
Department for Education (DfE) Yet to Act
Despite this, the foundation said the Department for Education (DfE) has yet to act. “Another school year has started and children are still going to class without guaranteed access to adrenaline,” Mrs Blythe said. “The evidence is now published, peer-reviewed and beyond question – yet nothing has changed.”
She added that the DfE had access to the research before Benedict’s inquest and “knows what needs to be done – yet schools remain unequipped”.
Benedict’s father, Peter Blythe, said the identified savings could fund national allergy training, emergency planning and stronger policies across schools. “It’s financially sound, evidence-based and morally urgent,” he said.
A DfE spokesperson said: “What happened to Benedict was a tragedy for his family and our thoughts remain with all those who loved him. To ensure allergies are not a barrier to children feeling safe at school, we are planning to consult on strengthened guidance later this year and are working across government to consider how we might extend the availability of allergy pens in schools.”
Office 27, East Moons Moat Business Centre
Oxleasow Rd, Redditch B98 0RE
Phone: 0333 207 0737
