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Clinical immunology and allergy

Easy Read Information

We deal with two types of medical condition – immunodeficiency and allergy (we also see patients with severe urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis, even when they are not being caused by allergy).

 

Current notices

Subsequent to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, there may be significant alteration to routine clinical services until normal circumstances are resumed. This is likely to mean fewer face-to-face consultations, fewer attendances for non-urgent procedures, and more telephone consultations.

Who we are

We are a small group of doctors and nurses providing a specialist service.

What we do

The conditions we deal with are:

Immunodeficiency – where there is a problem with the immune system, leading to increased proneness to infection.

Allergy – specifically, the type of allergy that causes problems such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, urticaria, angioedema and an

aphylaxis. This includes reactions to airborne allergens (e.g. dust, pollen, animal dander), foods, and insect venom (bee, wasp), and some reactions to drugs and latex.

We also deal with severe urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis, even when they are not caused by allergy.

Some special clinics are reserved for patients who are thought to have had an anaphylactic reaction to general anaesthesia.

We do not see patients with:

  • chronic fatigue – there is a dedicated chronic
  • fatigue clinic at this trust
  • eczema or the kind of allergy that causes eczema-like skin reactions (contact dermatitis) – dermatology deals with this
  • other kinds of drug reaction that cause non-urticarial skin rashes (‘delayed-type hypersensitivity’) – dermatology deals with this

Outpatient clinics

Outpatient clinics are on the ground floor of the Alexandra Wing at Broadgreen Hospital.

If you have been given an appointment for the clinic, please see ‘Before coming to the clinic’ below, as it contains important advice.

If you cannot keep, or do not want the appointment, please telephone the hospital as soon as possible to let us know.

 

Being referred to us

Patients are referred by another hospital specialist or GP.

Our guidelines for doctors referring patients to our clinic are available on this website.

What happens next

We look carefully at referrals before judging whether to arrange an outpatient appointment. Sometimes, we don’t offer an appointment. This can be because:

  • we haven’t been given enough information in the referral
  • the referral is for a problem that we don’t feel we can help with
  • we feel that some investigation, treatment, or other strategy can be tried before considering whether the patient needs to see us in the clinic

If we don’t offer an appointment, we always advise the referring doctor of the reason for this.

If we do offer an appointment, the details will be sent to you.

Before coming to clinic

Please click on the link below to look at the checklist for patients attending the immunology / allergy clinic – this has advice on how you can help us to make your clinic attendance more effective. Please do read and act on it appropriately, to avoid a wasted attendance. In particular, please note the advice about avoiding antihistamines before a consultation for possible allergy.

 

What happens when you see us

Outpatient clinics are on the ground floor of the Alexandra Wing at Broadgreen Hospital.

When you attend for your appointment, please walk through the double doors into the ground floor of the Alexandra Wing, Broadgreen Hospital. A few yards up the main corridor, take the first corridor on the right-hand side (signposted ‘dermatology and allergy’), then report to reception on your left, where a clerk will book you in. You will then be asked to wait until you are called to be seen.

Once you are called, you will be seen in a consulting room by a doctor or nurse or both. During your consultation, you will be asked about your problem, your other medical history, and your current medications (so please either bring all your medications with you, or bring a list of them). Depending on the reason for your attendance, here are some other things that might be done:

  • observations, such as temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and a breathing test
  • physical examination
  • allergy skin tests (skin prick or intradermal tests)
  • a challenge (allergen exposure) test
  • blood tests
  • other tests, such as x-rays or more detailed breathing tests

When we have enough information, we will discuss our thoughts about your problem and its treatment, and you will be able to ask us any questions you have.

When leaving the clinic, you might be given a form to hand in to reception so that the clerk can give you a follow up appointment (if one is needed), forms to take to the blood room (phlebotomy) for blood tests, and/or a yellow prescription to take to the hospital pharmacy. You might also have to go to the lung function room (for breathing tests), and/or the x-ray department.

Patient information leaflets

Information for medical colleagues referring to the immunology / allergy clinic

More information

We do not see patients with food intolerance, or syndromes/symptoms that do not have any established relationship to allergy (eg. chronic fatigue, chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, weight loss, weight gain, migraine, etc.).

Generally, we do not see patients with eczema unless there is additional evidence of immediate type allergy.

The Dermatology Dept at the hospital also deals with allergies.

The team

Consultants

  • Dr Jim Darroch (Consultant Immunologist)
  • Dr Hana Alachkar (Consultant Immunologist)
  • Dr Jim Hinds (GP with interest in Allergy)

Specialist Nurses

  • Jill Edmonds (Nurse Consultant)
  • Sheena Hopkins (Specialist Nurse)
  • Clare Bower (Specialist Nurse)
  • Jess Cannon (Specialist Nurse)

Staff Nurses

  • Brenda Wishart
  • Sylvia Turay

All the above can be contacted via the Allergy Clinic 0151 282 6369.

Secretaries

  • Patricia Fife - Secretary to Dr Jim Darroch on 0151 706 4349

Team email address

Disclaimer 

How to contact us

Allergy Department
Broadgreen Hospital
Alexandra Wing
Ground Floor
Thomas Drive
Liverpool
L14 3LB
Telephone: 0151 282 6369

Map

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