Adults Allergy Clinic opens at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
The parents of a young tennis player who died from anaphylactic shock say it is “wonderful” to support the opening of a specialist allergy clinic, the first of its kind in Kent.
The Adults Allergy Clinic, for those aged 16 and over, was launched at a conference at the Kent and Medway Medical School in Canterbury on Tuesday.
The new NHS service is backed by charity Allergy UK and the Sadie Bristow Foundation - set up in memory of a nine-year-old schoolgirl from Chartham who had asthma and a dairy allergy.
Her parents, tennis coach Stewart and Clare Bristow say they are immensely proud to be supporting the clinic which will help fill a vacuum in the treatment of older teenage and adult allergy sufferers.
They channeled their grief into the foundation after Sadie collapsed while on a family outing at Whitstable Castle in 2018.
She was rushed to hospital by her parents and then airlifted to St George’s Hospital in London, but despite the efforts of doctors, could not be revived.
Clare says that while pediatric clinics exist in east Kent for child allergy sufferers, there is no specialised support once they turn 16.
“It really is a wonderful thing to be able to support this new clinic at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital by helping to provide equipment and furnishings,” said Claire.
“Everyone involved is so passionate and enthusiastic about it and it’s great news for sufferers, some of who even have to travel to London for treatment.
“There are thousands of older people with various allergies in Kent, from food to things like insect bites, which causes them misery and can potentially be quite dangerous.”
The clinic has been described as a “major milestone” by consultant immunologist and allergist Dr Leman Mutlu, who will lead the facility at the K&C.
It will offer resources for patients struggling with allergies and be staffed by a team of experienced allergists and medical professionals dedicated to diagnosing and managing various allergy-related conditions.
Dr Mutlu added: “Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for patients by providing personalised, state-of-the-art care and treatment for allergies, which can significantly impact daily living.
“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
“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.
“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.”
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 is also working with researchers at Christ Church University and the Met Office to provide an onsite weather station, reading pollen levels.
The Sadie Bristow Foundation has raised more than £80,000 to support allergy research and provide advice literature to sufferers and their families.
Despite coping with her allergies, Sadie was a rising young tennis star with many tournament victories and ranked the top nine-year-old player in the country by the Lawn Tennis Association at the time of her tragic death.
“The work her foundation is doing for other allergy sufferers is a wonderful legacy of an amazing young girl who had such spirit and talent and was always helping others,” Claire said.
