Immunology

The Immunology service at St Helier Hospital provides a comprehensive clinical and diagnostic service for our hospitals, a number of local and distant hospitals, local GPs and other healthcare providers. The Allergy services are also co-ordinated by our consultants. 

Clinical immunology services

Three substantive and one locum consultant immunologists run allergy clinics for the diagnosis and management of many allergic conditions in adults. This includes drug allergy clinics, challenge clinics as well as immunotherapy clinics for allergen desensitisation (to aeroallergens and insect venoms).   

Immunodeficiency

Three substantive and one locum consultant immunologist provide a regional service for the investigation and management of primary and secondary Immunodeficiency in adults. Our clinical nurse specialist runs a hospital-based infusion clinic and co-ordinates home therapy for patients requiring immunoglobulin replacement therapy (by intravenous or subcutaneous routes). COVID notifications for SID and PID patients

Allergy

Three substantive and one locum consultant immunologist run allergy clinics for the diagnosis and management of many allergic conditions in adults including anaphylaxis, angioedema and urticaria, drug allergy, food allergy (including nut allergy), latex allergy, rhino-conjunctivitis (seasonal and perennial and insect venom allergy as well as immunotherapy clinics for allergen desensitisation (to aeroallergens and insect venoms).

Referral to allergy clinic (adult guidelines)[pdf] 218KB

Training and teaching 

The department is accredited for both biomedical scientist and clinical scientist training. Consultants provide Immunology teaching for medical students at St Georges University of London and also participate in training of junior doctors and GP trainees. We have full JCRPTB approval for postgraduate training in Immunology.

Research

The main research interests of the department include allergy, immunodeficiency, infertility and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Location and opening hours

The immunology laboratory is located on second floor, D block, St Helier.

Laboratory opening hours

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Contact details

Tel: 020 8296 2217

Key staff

  • Dr Grant Hayman, Consultant Immunologist and Head of Department
  • Dr Sai Murng, Consultant Immunologist
  • Dr Tasneem Rahman, Consultant Immunologist
  • Marcy Milarionmayieka, Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Laura Kirsopp, Technical Lead
  • Laura Kirsopp, Immunology and Protein Reference Unit Manager
  • Dr James Laffan, Consultant Immunologist

For allergy and immunodeficiency appointments/queries:

Tel: 020 8296 4840

Email: immunology-sth@nhs.net

More information

Immunology laboratory

The Immunology Laboratory and Protein Reference Unit is a specialist service based at St George’s Hospital. It is part of South West London Pathology, a network of pathology services which serve Kingston, Croydon and St George’s Hospitals, as well at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals.

It provides a comprehensive diagnostic service for immunology across the South West London Pathology network. The department hosts one of two Supraregional Assay Service Protein Reference Units in England UK and serves an extensive client base nationally and internationally, receiving samples from over 100 referring hospitals.

The wide and diverse UKAS-accredited repertoire of tests carried out by the Immunology Laboratory and Protein Reference Unit help to exclude, diagnose and monitor a variety of immunologically-based diseases relating to:

  • allergy
  • immune deficiency
  • hematological malignancy
  • autoimmune disease.

See the full list of immunology tests

Find out how to order a test

 

Department opening hours

Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

Laboratory enquiries: stgeorgespru@nhs.net, 0208 725 0025

Clinical enquiries: immunologyclinicalenquiries@stgeorges.nhs.uk, 0208 725 5106

(Please note, the stgeorges.nhs.uk domain is a secure network)

Immunology and Protein Reference Unit Laboratory Manager: Laura Kirsopp – laura.kirsopp@nhs.net, 020 8725 6182

SWLP Immunology Clinical Lead: Dr. Rachel Wheeler - r.wheeler@nhs.net, 0208 725 1870

 

Expert advice

Clinical advice on test requesting and interpretation of test results is available from our Consultant team during working hours. Questions relating to patient management should be directed to the St Helier Immunology Clinical team.

 

Guidance on interpreting test results

Please find guidance to help you interpret specific test results below.

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