Diagnostic and management service for conditions that affect the body’s immune system

Clinical immunology

Our Immunology department offers a diagnostic and management service for a range of conditions which affect the body’s immune system, including allergies and immunodeficiencies.

Allergy clinics

Our allergy clinics offer services for the diagnosis and management conditions such as:

Anaphylaxis
Angioedema and urticaria
Drug allergy
Food allergy (including nut allergy)
Latex allergy
Rhino-conjunctivitis (seasonal and perennial rhinitis)
Insect venom allergy.

Following a clinical consultation, your consultant may arrange tests, including:

Skin prick tests and intradermal tests
Specific IgE measurement on a blood sample
Supervised food or drug challenges.

Immunotherapy

We provide an immunotherapy (desensitisation) clinic and are able to undertake both subcutaneous and sublingual desensitisation therapy in selected patients.

Patient assessment and investigation

We aim to complete investigation and management plans for most new patients within a single appointment. Some patients may need to return for further clinical assessment or investigations. New patients are given a 30 minute appointment slot, during which time skin prick tests may be undertaken. In general, you should expect to be in the department for one hour at most.

A note on stopping anti-histamines

Skin prick test are the most commonly performed test in our clinic for the investigation of allergic disease/conditions. The test relies on the ability of the skin to react to an allergen pricked into the top layer of the skin. Anti-histamines (and drugs with anti-histaminic effects such as tricyclic anti-depressants and some older anti-psychotics) will suppress this skin reaction.

We generally request that anti-histamines are discontinued for five days before clinic attendance, where possible. Some people with very severe symptoms may find it difficult to stop the anti-histamines and in that situation blood tests may be performed. It is not necessary to stop other medication, eg asthma pumps or nasal sprays. Please do not stop anti-depressants or anti-psychotics without the advice of your doctor.

Information leaflets

Location and opening hours

We are based on the 2nd floor, D Block (outpatients department) at St Helier Hospital.

For allergy and immunodeficiency appointments/queries:

Tel: 020 8296 4840

Email: immunology-sth@nhs.net

Key staff

Dr Grant Hayman, Consultant Immunologist and Head of Department

Dr Tasneem Rahman, Consultant Immunologist

Dr James Laffan, Consultant Immunologist

Dr John Guly, Consultant Immunologist

Clarice Valera, Clinical Nurse Specialist

Raquel Thapa, Clinical Nurse Specialist

Mariel Alducente, Clinical Nurse Specialist

More information

Allergy UK

British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology

European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Immunodeficiency

South west London Immunodeficiency Centre

We provide a regional service for the investigation and management of primary and secondary immunodeficiency in adults. We offer both hospital-based and home treatment immunoglobulin replacement therapy, either via the intravenous or subcutaneous routes.

We do not provide a clinical service for patients with HIV/AIDS. If you have HIV/AIDS, you should be referred to our Genito-urinary medicine (sexual health) service.

Home therapy service

Some patients on long-term immunoglobulin replacement therapy are suitable for home therapy. This may be undertaken using intravenous or subcutaneous routes. If home therapy is appropriate for you, you will need to undergo a training programme, overseen by our clinical nurse specialist, who will also do annual home therapy assessments with you.

Conditions we investigate and manage:

Individuals with severe, persistent, unusual or recurrent infections
Antibody deficiency, particularly Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) and X-Linked Agammaglobulinaemia (XLA)
Hereditary and acquired angioedema (C1 Inhibitor Deficiency)
T cell or combined immunodeficiency
Neutrophil or phagocyte deficiencies/abnormalities
Complement deficiencies
Auto-inflammatory diseases
Systemic inflammation of unknown cause.