First allergy clinic opens for adult patients in Kent

Kent’s first specialist allergy clinic for adults is now open at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

The clinic will see patients with a range of allergic conditions, including airborne, drug, venom and food allergies.

From this week, allergy patients over 16 can be referred to East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s new service by their GP.

The clinic will be headed up by consultant immunologist and allergist Dr Leman Mutlu.

Having trained at an accredited World Allergy Organisation centre of excellence in Birmingham, Dr Mutlu is delighted to bring this vital service to patients in the region.

She said: "Nationally, allergy treatment is a huge unmet clinical need. This is the very first time we have a specialist service for adults like this in east Kent, and it’s a privilege to be able to offer it.

"To date, people in the area have not had local access to specialist care for allergies.

"This means patients have either had to go elsewhere – often to services in London, Surrey or Sussex – or have gone without specialist care.

"I have already spoken to one patient who was offered treatment for a wasp venom allergy in London. The treatment is 95% effective in curing the life-threatening allergy. However, as it meant they had to be in London weekly for 12 weeks, they decided to turn the treatment down and continue to live with the risk of a reaction, which means being prepared to execute an emergency management plan and avoiding certain activities completely, such as gardening. I am so pleased this is about to change."

According to the Royal College of Physicians, allergies are becoming more common across the UK, with one in three people now expected to develop an allergy at some point in their lives.

The new allergy clinic will offer a range of services, including advanced diagnostic testing, individualised treatment plans, and ongoing management. In addition to clinical services, the clinic will also focus on patient education and support, helping individuals understand and manage their allergies more effectively.

Dr Mutlu said: "There is an increase being seen in allergies in patients worldwide. While we have many effective treatments now, there is still a lot that is unknown, and much research is needed.

"I am very pleased to have connected with researchers from both University of Kent and Canterbury Christchurch University to discuss research opportunities once the clinical service is established.

"The patients that I have seen so far have been very grateful for the service. It is also very exciting for me, and I look forward to the expansion of the clinical service over time."