Refer to the children's allergy service

Find out how to refer patients to our children's allergy service.

GP

Please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to our service.

Referrals to our paediatric allergy service should be made if a patient shows any of the following:

• faltering growth in combination with any other gastrointestinal symptom suggestive of food allergy
• no improvement in symptoms in response to a single elimination diet
• one or more acute systemic reactions suggestive of anaphylaxis
• one or more severe delayed reaction
• acute food allergies and asthma
• asthma not responding to moderate doses of inhaled steroids
• significant eczema where multiple food allergies are suspected
• persistent parental suspicion of food allergy especially in children with difficult or perplexing symptoms
• hayfever or rhinoconjunctivitis which doesn’t respond to first line medications such as non-sedating antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids
• suspected allergy to a medicine or anaesthetic agent
• systemic allergic reaction to an insect sting, e.g. wasp or bee
• chronic idiopathic urticaria or physical urticaria which doesn’t respond to treatment with non-sedating antihistamine
• typical symptoms of acute food allergy develop <1 hour after exposure, and include the development of urticarial and/or angioedema, breathing difficulties, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or cardiovascular collapse after ingestion of allergenic foodstuff
• GPs should recognise that not all anaphylaxis is associated with rash.

When referring please ensure you tell us if the patient also suffers from asthma, hay fever or eczema and provide details of any food reactions or drug allergies.

Please also provide a list of all medications and creams prescribed.

If food is suspected as a cause, please ask patients to bring the specific foods to their hospital appointment as this will also help in testing. This should include any food packaging that lists ingredients.

GP advice

If you have questions about a patient or a referral, please call 020 3312 6650.