Allergy

 

The paediatric allergy team at the RD&E is a holistic team comprising of doctors, nurses and dietitians. We run a comprehensive allergy clinic, covering the full range of allergies and related conditions such as:

  • Food allergies
  • Hay fever
  • Allergies to year round allergens such as house dust mites and animals
  • Drug allergy
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Chronic Urticaria and Angioedema
  • Allergies to bee and wasp stings
  • Allergic asthma
  • Eczema
  • Mast cell disorders

We see children birth up to 18 years and offer a “one stop shop” clinic appointment with access to testing and dietetics. We focus on early prevention of allergies and attempt to work on safe food re-introductions following the most up to date evidence, whilst focussing on the child as whole.

More on what we do

The paediatric allergy team provide a range of services including:

  • Blood tests – specific IgE and component tests
  • Skin prick testing
  • Food exclusions and re-introduction led by our dietitian

We work closely with the other specialities in the hospital such as dermatology, who run a children's skin service, ophthalmology, ENT, gastroenterology and respiratory and offer joint clinics or joint reviews as appropriate.

If you child reaches adolescence with us, we run a monthly adolescent clinic aimed at supporting the young person and family in their next phase. If ended, we refer on to the adult allergy unit at the Eden Unit in Derriford.

Treatments

We may institute a range of therapies, including skin, nasal and eye treatments, as well as inhalers or adrenaline pens if needed. We give comprehensive education, training and support around your child and family to ensure the best outcomes, and liaise closely with schools and nurseries as needed. We provide written emergency plans and a comprehensive list of supportive websites or groups to continue to aid your family.

If your child is ever admitted to hospital, our team will aim to meet you on the ward to review your allergic conditions if appropriate.

We offer a range of treatments such as:

  • Food challenges and supervised feeds to introduce food back in to the diet, prove a food allergy and show that a food allergy has been outgrown
  • Drug challenges to oral medication and local anaesthetics
  • Oral immunotherapy for air borne allergies
  • Immunotherapy for bee and wasp allergies
  • Biological therapies for chronic urticaria

Our team

Consultants

  • Dr Siân Ludman
  • Dr Rebecca Franklin
  • Dr Emily Chesshyre

Allergy/Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists

  • Mich Curtis
  • Abbie Rickards

Paediatric Allergy Dietitian

  • Lorna Pring

Where to find us

RD&E Wonford, Barrack Rd, Exeter EX2 5DW

Contact us

If you want to get in touch with the department, please contact:

Telephone: 01392 406633

Email: rde-tr.paediatricallergy@nhs.net

Clinics

The clinics we run are:

  • General allergy clinics twice a week
  • Weekly supervised feed and oral food challenge on Bramble Day Care Unit
  • Monthly specialist clinics for drug allergy and difficult to manage urticaria
  • Alternate monthly specialist clinics with paediatric dermatology and paediatric gastroenterology
  • Two paediatric allergy dietitian clinics a week
  • Two clinical nurse specialist clinics a week

You can also see a list of our allergy clinics on the BSACI website: www.bsaci.org/allergy-clinic/royal-devon-and-exeter-nhs-foundation-trust.

Supporting you

We have a strong link with our clinical psychology colleagues and liaise with them if there are any allergy specific anxiety or related conditions that we feel would benefit from extra emotional support.

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