The service is delivered mainly at the Great North Children’s Hospital, with additional clinics held at Benfield Park Medical Group, in east Newcastle.
The service manages a wide range of allergic conditions including:
- food allergy and anaphylaxis
- eczema
- asthma
- hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
- rashes (urticaria)
- swelling (angioedema)
- drug allergy
- latex allergy and
- insect venom allergy.
The service supports children with both straightforward and complex allergy, including those requiring specialist-level care.
Care is provided through consultant-led clinics supported by specialist nurses, dietitians and allied health professionals. The service works closely with other children’s healthcare teams, primary care /GPs, schools and community services, and contributes to regional and national allergy networks.
The service is part of the Northern Paediatric Allergy Group.
Appointments and referrals
Referrals to the paediatric allergy service are accepted from GPs, hospital consultants and other healthcare professionals. Referrals should include a clear clinical history, details of suspected allergic reactions, previous investigations, and details any relevant conditions such as asthma or eczema.
All referrals are assessed and prioritised by the clinical team to ensure patients are seen in the most appropriate clinic.
Urgent referrals are prioritised where there is concern about severe or life-threatening allergy. Families will receive appointment information and guidance prior to attending clinic.
Contact
You can contact the children’s allergy service team on:
Please bear in mind we are unable to offer advice to families not under our service
Allergy testing
The children’s allergy service offers a range of tests to support the assessment and diagnosis of allergic conditions. Testing is always considered alongside a detailed allergy focused clinical history, as no single test can diagnose allergy on its own.
Investigations may include skin prick testing for foods, aeroallergens and venoms, blood tests and other assessments as needed.
Skin prick testing involves placing small amounts of allergen extract on the skin and gently pricking the surface to assess for an allergic response. Results are available during your clinic appointment and are explained clearly to families.
We are able to support, in partnership with colleagues in our dermatology and respiratory clinics, referrals for patch-testing for contact dermatitis and lung function and exercise tolerance testing for asthma.
Not all children require allergy testing, and in some cases testing may not be appropriate or helpful. Decisions are made based on the child’s symptoms, medical history and current guidelines. Test results are discussed in detail with families, including their significance, limitations and ongoing management.
Where results are unclear or more clarification is needed, additional investigations such as supervised food or drug challenges may be recommended and arranged.
Food challenges and supervised feeds
Oral food challenges and supervised eating are an essential part of allergy assessment and management. These procedures are used to confirm or exclude food allergy, assess tolerance, or support the safe reintroduction of foods.
Food challenges are carried out in a hospital setting with appropriate medical and nursing supervision. Individualised risk assessments are undertaken beforehand, and emergency equipment and medications are readily available to ensure safety throughout the procedure.
Drug allergy testing and challenges
Children with a suspected drug allergy are assessed through detailed clinical history and review of previous reactions. Where appropriate, further investigations may include allergy testing or supervised drug challenge procedures.
Clarifying drug allergy status is important to avoid unnecessary restriction of medications and to support safe future treatment. All testing and challenges are undertaken according to national and international guidance.
Allergic rhinitis and insect sting allergies (aeroallergen and venom) – immunotherapy
The service offers specialist assessment for allergen immunotherapy in selected children and young people, including for allergic rhinitis and insect sting allergy.
Patients are carefully assessed for suitability, and immunotherapy is delivered under specialist supervision. Families are advised on treatment expectations, benefits and risks.
Clinics
The children’s allergy service provides a range of clinics including general paediatric allergy, food allergy, drug allergy assessment, chronic urticaria and immunotherapy clinics where appropriate. The department also works closely with other specialties, and joint clinics take place, for example children’s allergy and dermatology and respiratory allergy, as well as ad-hoc clinics for gastroallergy, opthalmology and ear, nose and throat.
Clinics are consultant-led and supported by specialist nursing and dietetic input, ensuring a coordinated approach to care. We have access to a child psychology unit for complex and challenging disease.
The team
Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in children’s allergies. This includes consultant paediatric allergists, specialty doctors, allergy nurse specialists, paediatric dietitians, and access to psychology and other allied health professionals when required.
We are actively involved in teaching, training, audit and service development, and contribute to allergy research and quality improvement initiatives.
Consultants
Dr Andrew Bright
Allergy specialist doctors
Dr Paul Netts
Dr Sian Williams
Allergy clinical nurse specialists
Julie Pentland
Anne McDonnell CNS
Emily Walton CNS
Joanne McCullough CNS
Research
The children’s allergy service at Great North Children’s Hospital is actively involved in research aimed at improving the understanding, diagnosis and management of allergic conditions in children and young people. Research activity supports the ongoing development of evidence-based care and contributes to local, national and international collaborations in paediatric allergy.
Children and families attending the service may be invited to take part in research studies during the course of their care. This may include the use of clinical information, completion of questionnaires, or providing additional blood or other samples to support research projects. In some cases, families may be asked for permission to allow samples to be stored for use in future ethically approved studies.
All research studies are fully explained to families, with written information provided before consent is requested. Participation in research is entirely voluntary, and choosing not to take part will not affect a child’s clinical care in any way.
Patient information and leaflets
A range of patient information leaflets is available to support families before, during and after clinic visits. Topics include food allergy management, use of adrenaline auto-injectors, eczema care, allergen avoidance, and action plans for allergic reactions.
