Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that primary care health practitioners are aware of the (a) symptoms of and (b) treatment for touching oak processionary moth caterpillars and nests in areas experiencing infestations.
Local health protection teams provide proactive advice and warnings for oak processionary moths and have promoted awareness among health professionals in areas with known infestations. People who come into contact with the caterpillars are directed to see a pharmacist for relief from milder skin or eye irritations following possible contact or consult a general practitioner or NHS 111 for more serious reactions.