https://www.drhelenallergy.co.uk/

Dr Helen Allergy, Suite 1 Endeavour House, Crow Arch Lane, Ringwood (2026)

06/02/2026

This week has seen some huge news in the UK for children living with allergies, and their families.

Because every child with allergies should be safe at school.

Many have supported, listened and helped highlight where change is needed, but a huge mention must go to The Benedict Blythe Foundation, who have worked so very hard to make a massive change for the good of the allergy community.

I will share more news and updates as we hear them, and always support where I can.

Having been a mum sending my child with allergies to school, I completely understand the worry and fears.

I look forward to seeing these changes develop over the year.

05/02/2026

Let's talk about egg ladders and immunotherapy.

When should we pause, reduce or stop?

And how does non-IgE and IgE differ?

What questions do you have about egg allergies?

04/02/2026

It’s World Cancer Day.

Yesterday brought some really important news for the allergy community, and I’ll share more thoughts on that soon. Today, though, is a deeply personal day.

While I wish I didn’t have a story to share, I do.

The journey, and its effects, didn’t magically stop when I rang the end-of-treatment bell. There’s a quiet that’s difficult to put into words. You try to return to normal, but life doesn’t feel quite the same as it did before.

I found a lump in the shower.
It wasn’t there the day before.

I’m very grateful that I was able to ring that bell.
Not everyone gets that moment, and I hope more people do each year.

Know your body, check for changes, and always get things checked out.
No worry is too small.

03/02/2026

This causes a lot of understandable worry.

Allergy tests can be helpful, but they don’t tell the whole story on their own. A positive test doesn’t automatically mean there’s a true allergy, and a negative test doesn’t always rule one out.

What matters most is the clinical history, symptoms, and the individual nuances behind each result. This is why allergy care is never just about numbers on a page. It’s something I’m very mindful of, both as a clinician and from lived experience with my own family.

If test results have ever left you feeling more confused than reassured, you’re not alone.

Have you ever been unsure what your test results really meant?

02/02/2026

Very little research has focused on food allergy–related anxiety and coping in adults, despite how significant the impact can be.

In clinic, I regularly see how living with a food allergy affects confidence, social situations, and everyday decision-making for adults, not just children and families. While we do offer food allergy immunotherapy for adults, we’re very aware that this isn’t the right option for everyone.

This research study, being carried out by psychology students at Aston University, is exploring food allergy–related anxiety, coping, and quality of life in adults, using validated questionnaires. The aim is to better understand how adults manage food allergies, and how support can be improved.

Adults aged 18 or over with a diagnosed food allergy are invited to take part in an online survey, which takes around 15–20 minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

If you’re interested in contributing to research that helps build a clearer picture of adult experiences with food allergy, you can find more information and access the study via the QR code.

Alongside research, it’s important to say that adults living with food allergy deserve ongoing support too. Whether that’s through clinic-based care, clear conversations about options, or having a space to ask questions as they arise, support shouldn’t stop in childhood.

Thank you to everyone who helps move this area of understanding forward. If you’re able to take part, or to share this post with others who might be interested, it’s very much appreciated.

30/01/2026

Some of you may have seen that Twister ice lollies have announced they’ll now contain milk. I’ve had some very disappointed children (and adults) in the allergy clinic.

It’s a small change on paper, but for families managing food allergies, these things can really make a difference. Products that once felt safe, familiar, and easy can suddenly disappear.

Moments like this are a reminder of how much everyday food choices matter, especially for children and young people.

So I’d love to hear from you:

Are there any allergy-friendly treats you miss, or wish someone would invent?
Or if you’ve found a good alternative, please share it below. Your suggestions often help other families more than you realise.

29/01/2026

After diagnosis, I often hear the same questions.

What does this mean for day-to-day life?
What actually needs dealing with now, and what can wait?
Will this change as my child grows?
What if more questions come up later?

These aren’t questions that get answered in one appointment. They tend to come up gradually, as families find their feet and life carries on.

A big part of good allergy care is helping families prioritise — knowing what matters right now, what doesn’t need rushing, and having support in the background when new worries pop up.

This is how we work in clinic, and it’s also why many families value the membership. It gives you a place to ask questions as they arise, without feeling like you need to have everything figured out straight away.

Ever left an appointment and thought of questions later that day?

28/01/2026

This moment mattered, because of everything behind it.

For George, this wasn’t one appointment or one decision. It was a journey, supported step by step, over time.

➡Allergy journeys often start with early worries and first signs of allergy.
Time to talk things through.
Careful assessment.
Blood tests and/or skin prick tests.
Food challenges, where appropriate.
Confirmation of diagnosis.

Then come conversations about options, whether to wait, watch, or consider immunotherapy. Support through treatment. Ongoing reviews. Adjustments along the way. And later, hopefully graduating immunotherapy, with continued care, including post-maintenance challenges and individualised plans to reduce maintenance safely, when the time is right.

Support with allergies doesn’t happen in a single appointment. It happens in the spaces between, in the questions, the follow-ups, the reassurance, and the teamwork.

George has had a whole team around him, family, nurses and doctors, working together to support him at each stage.

🛎️This was a moment worth ringing the bell for.🎉

From early worries and first signs, through diagnosis and testing, to conversations about next steps, my team and I are here to support you.

👩‍⚕️👩‍💻We offer in-person and remote consultations, testing, and clear discussions about the options ahead, as well as ongoing, day-to-day support through our membership.

Wherever you are geographically, you don’t have to navigate this alone.

27/01/2026

Access to allergy immunotherapy shouldn’t have to depend on luck.

My recent post on the withdrawal of Palforzia, the reality of current availability, and the messages many of you have shared have really highlighted this.

For many families in the UK, cost and access can be real barriers when exploring treatment options.... and that can feel incredibly frustrating. Some families have been offered NHS provision; others have accessed treatments through trials (often depending on geography and personal circumstances). For some, private care is attainable; for others, it remains out of reach.

We’re aware that The Sadie Bristow Foundation is currently offering a management fund to help support access to allergen immunotherapy, with applications closing at the end of this month.

This won’t be right for everyone, and eligibility will vary. But for families who may be feeling stuck or unsure where to turn next, it’s important to know what support exists while consistent pathways don’t yet exist for everyone in the UK.

Allergy support and treatment options shouldn’t depend on luck. But while access remains uneven, opportunities like this can be a real lifeline.

Living well with allergies means having clear information, appropriate support, and realistic options, not just in January, but for the long term.

💬 Does access to treatment feel like a barrier for your family?

The Sadie Bristow Foundation

26/01/2026

Have you heard that Paforzia- the licenced product to treat peanut allergy has been withdrawn? From the end of March, initial starter packs will be withdrawn, followed, by updosing packs next year. If you are mid treatment with a centre -don't panic, the treatment will continue.

But what will this mean for those who have not started? Does this mean that peanut allergy can no longer be treated?

Across the world, peanut allergy has been treated for many years using 'real food'. My personal belief is that this is how it should be. Using real food allows us to modify doses and individualise patient. No two stories or journeys are alike, and we have to be able to adapt protocols to match the needs of our patients.

At Dr Helen Allergy (with clinics in Belfast and Ringwood, Hampshire) we are experienced at treating peanut allergy, in all ages, adults and children. We have plenty of options for you. Many of our patients have multiple food allergies, and using real food has allowed us to successfully treat not only their peanut allergy, but multiple other allergies at the same time, something which is not possible, if we use Palforzia, as the licencing advises against it being combined with another food.

I hope that this heralds a new era in the UK, for specialists to look at the research, the published protocols, and know that we can treat most food allergies very successfully using real food, in shorter time frames than Palforzia. This will reduce the cost burden in the NHS and could mean more patients are offered life changing options. But, I do worry that this may mean the NHS stops everything. I want to extend my support to families who have been on Palforzia waiting lists for some time. I sincerely hope that you are given options. If this does not happen, please reach out to us.

When the data from the Natasha study (which uses real milk and peanut to treat allergy) is released, I feel extremely hopeful that more options will be available in the UK. However, given this is some time off, I can't help but worry, that this news, spells real disappointment for families and for others, may mean that vital windows of opportunity are lost. If we can support in any way, please reach out to us. We are hoping to offer more charity places in the future, so do, watch this space. When one door closes, another one opens.

Much love, Dr Helen x

23/01/2026

January always comes with food trends and challenges.

The shops are suddenly full of vegan specials, and there’s a real buzz around trying new things. For many families, that variety and visibility is genuinely welcome. It can be frustrating, though, when those useful, safe options quietly disappear again after a few weeks.

For allergy families, reading labels, adapting meals and thinking ahead isn’t a one-month thing — it’s part of everyday life.

My approach has always been live well with allergies. Because with the right information and support, patients and their families can find a way of life that lasts well beyond January.

💬 Have you found any good vegan or dairy-free options this month, or are you giving it a miss?

22/01/2026

For many families, that first appointment sticks with you. The nerves, the questions, the relief, sometimes the overwhelm. Older patients might also remember theirs too.

If you’re happy to share, we’d love to hear:

💬 What do you remember about your first allergy clinic appointment?
(Your experience might really help another parent reading along.)

Dr Helen Allergy

06/02/2026

05/02/2026

04/02/2026

03/02/2026

02/02/2026

30/01/2026

29/01/2026

28/01/2026

27/01/2026

26/01/2026

23/01/2026

22/01/2026

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