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University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Children's Allergy Services

Meet the Team

Dr Madhavi Velpula - Paediatric Consultant Speciality Allergy

Dr Fiona Hignett - Paediatric Consultant Speciality Allergy

Gaynor Shakesheff - Children's Allergy Nurse Specialist

Dawn Jolly - Children's Allergy Nurse

Michele Swan - Children's Allergy Nurse

Odette Rodda - Paediatric Dermatology & Allergy Advanced Nurse Specialist

Our children's allergy clinic offers a full service for children with severe and multiple allergies.

We aim to give your child a complete allergy evaluation in one visit. Allergy test results will usually be available on the same day, and your doctor or allergy nurse specialist will discuss them with you.

Referrals

We would receive a referral letter from either a GP or Consultant.

Your child might come to our clinic due to:

  • A food allergy or intolerance.
  • Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).
  • Asthma.
  • Allergy related skin disorders, such as eczema, dermatitis, urticaria (hives) and angio-oedema hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
  • Oral allergy syndrome.
  • Bee and wasp sting allergy.
  • Latex allergy.
  • Drug allergy.

As well as allergy testing, we help children with allergies as they grow up and their immune system becomes mature. We support families through these changes until they are ready to move to the adult service.

Skin Prick Testing

Skin prick testing involves putting a drop of liquid onto your forearm that contains a substance you may be allergic to.

Please click here to be taken to our Skin Prick Testing information.

Challenges

A challenge is a test to diagnose a food or drug allergy (diagnostic food/drug challenge) or to see if your child has grown out of a previously known allergy (resolution food/drug challenge).

Please click here to be taken to our 'All About Challenges' information.

Below are a few information guides we use, and this is the area we have encouraged you to read highlighted on your tick sheet. You would have recieved this in clinic or in a letter sent to your home address from the hospital.

Food Allergy

House Allergy

Outdoor Allergy

Adrenaline Auto Injector Leaflets

Immunisations

Skin

Click here to be taken to the Healtheir Together website.

Click here to be taken to the AllergyUK website - This is the leading national charity providing support, advice and information for those living with an allergic disease.

Contact Details

Generic Allergy Phone Number: 0300 019 3111

Generic Allergy Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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