I have been referred to the allergy service what happens now ?
The referral sent by your GP will have been reviewed by a consultant. In some cases we write a letter back offering advice only. In other cases we offer a consultation. If your referral has been accepted you will be sent a text message with a link to the NHS app which will display your appointment details and give you the option to rebook, cancel or accept the appointment. If the link sent by text message isn’t accessed within a certain timeframe you will receive a letter through the post with the appointment details.
What happens at my appointment ?
Depending on the type of clinic you will see a member of the Clinical immunology and allergy team, this includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists and physician associate. All team members working in clinic have access to a consultant for advice. We will discuss your symptoms, plan any testing and then offer a treatment plan if required.
If you have testing planned this may be a skin test (skin prick test) or blood test and will be tailored to your referral and clinic encounter.
We do not perform patch testing in the clinical allergy and immunology service.
What allergy clinics are there ?
General allergy clinic (food allergy, venom allergy, inhalant allergy, chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema)
- Drug allergy clinic
- Anaesthetic allergy clinic
- Nurse led allergy clinic (food allergy, venom allergy, inhalant allergy)
- Chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema clinic
- DMARD clinic (patients on immunosuppressive medicines)
What is Allergy?
Our immune system is designed to protect against harmful external agents such as infections. However, in allergic individuals the immune system becomes sensitised to harmless substances such as pollens and food and can produce an inappropriate response when exposed.
I have been told that I have chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema, what is this?
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) is a common and distressing skin condition that causes itchy and sometimes painful hives or wheals (raised rash or patches) on the skin with no known obvious cause or trigger.
For more information on Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria please follow the external link below.
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Leaflet | Allergy UK | National Charity