Clinical Immunology and Allergy
Clinical Immunology and Allergy
The Clinical Immunology and Allergy department provides a specialist clinical service for all aspects of adult allergy and immunodeficiency.
Adult general allergy clinics (including difficult urticaria)
Patients with allergy symptoms need to be referred by their GP or another hospital team to this clinic.
We offer services for the management and diagnosis of various allergic conditions including anaphylaxis, angioedema and urticaria, drug allergy, food allergy, rhinoconjunctivitis (seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis) and insect venom allergy.
Adult general immunodeficiency clinics
We provide a regional service for the investigation and management of primary and secondary immunodeficiency.
We offer immunoglobulin replacement therapy, both in hospital and home-based, either via the intravenous or subcutaneous routes.
We also provide a regional service for patients with C1 inhibitor deficiency, and training for self-administered therapies for this condition.
Allergen immunotherapy clinics
Patients with severe allergic rhinitis (not controlled on conventional medication) or venom allergy are treated with immunotherapy (desensitisation) treatment.
Patients are usually assessed in a general allergy clinic first to determine suitability for this form of treatment.
Drug allergy testing and challenge clinics
Patients are assessed for drug allergies to identify the responsible drug and alternatives that are safe to use.
Patients can be referred to this clinic after assessment in a general allergy clinic or are sometimes booked directly in following referral from their GP.
Drug allergy testing involves skin testing and/ or challenge testing, where a patient is exposed to a gradually increasing amount of medication.
Food challenge clinics
Patients are given increasing amount of various foods (following skin testing) to determine what they are allergic to, or whether they have grown out of a previous allergy.
Home training for immunoglobulin infusion therapy
Patients who require immunoglobulin therapy (or other immunological treatments) are provided training by one of the specialist nurses on how to self-administer at home.
This is usually done over a period of several weeks and is tailored to a patient’s individual needs.
Who will be involved in my care?
Dr Bogusia Kasternow - Consultant Allergist
Dr Joanne Miller - Consultant Immunologist
Dr Patrick Yong - Consultant Immunologist
Katrina Bates - Clinical Nurse Specialist
Durga Gurung - Clinical Nurse Specialist
How do I contact you?
What documents need to be provided to confirm my identity?
Please refer to the checklist in the application form for further details.