The Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology centre at UHB is officially world class after achieving prestigious international recognition.

The West Midlands Allergy and Immunology service at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust – in partnership with the Regional Severe Asthma Service, the Occupational Asthma Service and the Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy and School of Pharmacy at the University of Birmingham – has been designated as a World Allergy Organisation (WAO) Centre of Excellence.

Read more about the award here. The WAO website has information about the award and a list of accredited centres around the world.

About 30 staff attended a lunchtime drop-in hay fever clinic, delivered by the Allergy team during Allergy Awareness week. Allergy nurses and doctors provided a free assessment of symptoms and advice on how to get the most out of over-the-counter medications, together with other tips to help staff stay well during high pollen counts. Feedback was very positive, with most staff saying they will make big changes to how they manage their hay fever this year. Some staff thought that a short talk or presentation would be helpful so we’ll bear this in mind for next year.

The Allergy team is offering free advice to hay fever sufferers working at Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals and the Chest Clinic.

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about hay fever (although if you are allergic to tree pollens you may be getting symptoms already). Grass pollen counts don’t really get going until May, but people with severe hay fever need to be prepared for this beforehand.

Hospital staff can drop in to a free advice clinic on the following dates:

• Heartlands Tues 2^nd May  12.00 – 13.15 outside lecture theatre
• Heartlands Wed 3^rd May  12.00 – 13.15 outside lecture theatre
• Good Hope Thurs 4^th May 13.00 – 14.00  main corridor outside X-ray
• Heartlands Friday 5^th May 12.00 – 13.15 outside lecture theatre
• Chest Clinic Mon 8^th May 12.45 – 13.30

“Patient-centered care is what you deliver”

“One of the most advanced comprehensive Allergy Services in the UK”

The compliments flowed when the West Midlands Allergy Centre was inspected by the IQAS team on the 14th September. In the first inspection of its kind in the UK, the allergy service at HEFT was awarded full accreditation for providing a safe, effective and evidence-based service.

Patient feedback was an important part of the assessment, and some patients came in person to give the inspectors their views on the service that they had from the allergy team.

Dr Krishna who leads the team said “I am delighted that the first allergy service has achieved IQAS accreditation following a stringent independent assessment by a very experienced team, and am pleased that it has been my centre to do this”.

You can see more details of the inspection at the IQAS website.

Patients with anaphylaxis and their family and carers will have a new opportunity to meet others with the same problem. The Anaphylaxis Campaign, a UK support group, has established a new local group in Birmingham. Their first meeting will be at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Wednesday 8th June  6.30pm at the Innovation Hub meeting room.

You can find details at the Anaphylaxis Campaign website or by contacting keithbyrne@msn.com.

At this time of year sneezing and sniffles could just be a cold. But in some people these symptoms are actually caused by allergies to tree pollens.

From now until late April trees are shedding their pollen to the wind, causing some people misery with allergy symptoms. The treatments are the same as for grass pollen allergies (“hay fever”) – have a look at our information about immunotherapy, which is an effective treatment for some sufferers.

The West Midlands Allergy Centre based at HEFT is a “robust, quality clinical service”, according to an inspection by the IQAS team from the Royal College of Physicians. Debbie Johnston, who led the inspection, praised the teamwork and leadership, and was impressed by patient feedback and evidence of good communication. The inspection team specially commented on the fantastic nursing team, and the quality of the clinical management and facilities.

The Allergy Centre was inspected as a pilot site for the new IQAS (Improving Quality in Allergy Services) accreditation scheme. Dr Krishna, who leads the HEFT service, said “I am very proud of the Allergy team that has got this fantastic result. We are well on our way to the full accreditation inspection, which we are planning for early next year”.