GP information

Allergy

1 in 5 of the UK population suffers from hayfever which reduces quality of life and work performance and can impair results in school examinations.

1 in 50 children suffer from peanut allergy. That’s one child in every 2nd classroom. Peanut allergy may cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Asthma accounts for 70,000 admissions and anaphylaxis for 30,000 admissions to hospital each year within UK. Medications for allergies cost £0.9 billion/yr, 11% the total NHS drug budget *

* House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee enquiry into “Allergy”

Here at Homerton we aim to provide a reliable and quality allergy service. Tests and treatments are based on peer reviewed scientific evidence and our team has a wealth of experience in the allergy field.

Our services

We provide outpatient clinics, emergency A & E, intensive care & inpatient facilities for patients requiring them. There are approximately seven outpatient clinics a week, covering the different specialist areas, where experts consult with patients on particular allergy issues.

Patients who require particular tests such as drug and severe food allergy diagnosis are admitted as "day-cases" to either the Starlight Unit (children) or the Day Stay Unit (DSU).

Services available include:

For adults

  • Rhinitis
  • Hayfever
  • Severe asthma
  • Food allergy
  • Medication allergy
  • Skin – urticaria & angioeodema (other skin problems are seen by the adult dermatology department)

For children

  • Rhinitis
  • Hayfever
  • Severe asthma
  • Food allergy
  • Skin allergy – all types

Further information is available by clicking on each service.

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Making an appointment

Patients from any area of the UK are able to be seen if they are referred by their GP.

We primarily serve patients who live in Hackney and its surrounding boroughs, or those who have been admitted to the Acute Care Unit (ACU) via A&E. We also see patients from outside of the local area, mainly from north-east London and Essex.

In every case, the first port of call is your GP who is best placed to decide, with you, whether you need to see a specialist at Homerton.

Your GP may decide that a course of treatment is necessary; it is very important to follow their treatment advice carefully. If you have taken your treatment and it has not worked, return to your GP to discuss the matter further.

If it is appropriate they will write to the specialist and details of an appointment will be sent to you. Patients are required to telephone a number on the appointment letter to confirm that they can attend.
 

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How to contact us

For general information about allergy – not for appointments:

Andrew Williams
Consultant nurse allergy
tel: 020 8510 7769
email: andrew.williams@homerton.nhs.uk

Appointment enquiries
For appointment enquiries contact the outpatients department on 020 8510 5544.

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Key staff

Dr Raja Rajakulasingam
Consultant physician and honorary senior lecturer with a special interest in asthma, allergy, immunotherapy (desensitisation) and general chest problems

Dr Rajiv Sood
Consultant paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric allergy

Dr Tammy Rothenberg
Consultant paediatrician with a special interest in allergy

Rama Gorrela
Lead Respiratory Physiologist
tel: 020 8510 7803

Shelly Hibberd
Paediatric Allergy Nurse
tel: 020 8510 5976

Michelle Joyce
Allergy & Asthma Nurse Specialist (adult)
tel: 020 8510 7729

Yvonne Polydorou
Senior paediatric dietician

Susan Tinker
Paediatric Dermatology Nurse Specialist

Andrew Williams
Consultant nurse – allergy (paediatric and adult)

Gwawr Williams
Lead Dietician and nutrition service manager

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