Allergy in practice 2026

Tuesday 12th May 2026 to Wednesday 13th May 2026

Programme

 

Allergy Academy   

 

Allergy in Practice for Health Professionals

 

Provisional timetable for allergy in practice course (subject to change)

 

 

 

Day 1: Tuesday 12th May 2026 : Introduction to allergic disease (Virtual)

 

Time

Title

Outcome

09.00-0930

Welcome and introduction

Dr Imelda Gerry (allergy clinical fellow) & Rebecca Batt (allergy nurse consultant)

Learning objectives, introduce the faculty, get to know other students, introduction to the syllabus.

0930-1015

Epidemiology

Rebecca Batt (allergy nurse consultant)

Epidemiology of allergic disease and snapshot of allergy clinic

1015-1100

What is immunotherapy?

Dr Tom Marrs (consultant allergist)

Overview of immunotherapy

1100-1115

Break

 

1115-12:00

 


Basic Immunology

Professor Alexandra Santos (consultant paediatric allergist)

Understand the basic immunological mechanisms of allergic disease.  The process of initial sensitisation, the allergic response in the presence of an allergen. Allergic March.IgE/non-IgE reactions.

1145-1230

How to take an allergy focused clinical history 

Dr Parisut Kimkool (consultant paediatric allergist)

 

                       

Understand the importance of an allergy focused history.  Gain an awareness of frameworks available to inform practice

 

 

1230-1315

Lunch

 

1315-1400

Pharmacological management of allergic disease

Dr Imelda Gerry (allergy clinical fellow)

Develop an understanding of the pharmacology & pharmacokinetics of medication used in the management of allergic disease.

1400-1500

Diagnostic techniques

Dr Hannah Linton (Allergy SpR)

Various techniques in the diagnosis of allergic disease.  Understand how to perform SPT safely. Gain understanding of when SpIgE may be appropriate, how SpIgE is performed & how to interpret results.  Gain understanding of CRD for certain allergens can enhance diagnosis & inform management.

1500-1510

Break

 

1510-1600

Spirometry and FeNO  

Krushila Narendrakuma (respiratory physiologist)

Understand the use of lung function testing and FeNO

1600-1615

Q&A

 

 

Close of the day

 

 

Day 2: Wednesday 13th May 2026: Introduction to allergic disease (Virtual)

 

Time

Title

Outcome

0855-0900

Introduction and welcome

Dr Imelda Gerry (allergy clinical fellow)

 

0900-0945

Allergic rhinitis and immunotherapy

Courney Hammond and Elle Giles (allergy clinical nurse specialists)

This session will explore common triggers, avoidance and treatment of allergic rhinitis including BSACI guidelines

0945-1030

Introduction to eczema

Dr Holly Boyd (consultant allergist)

 

This session will explore eczema and its practical management

1030-10:45

Break

 

1045-1130

Drug allergy

Dr Elizabeth Powell (consultant allergist)

An overview- to include presentation, testing and management.

 

1130-1215

Asthma: Supporting Improvement in Primary Care in Southeast London

 

Dr Siân Howell (GP and Clinical Lead in the CESEL team)

Diagnosis, management, treatment options and current issues for patients with asthma

1215-1300

Lunch

 

1300-1400

 Urticaria (including biologics)

Dr Erika Harnik (consultant allergist)

 

 

Students will gain understanding of the pathophysiology of urticaria and management of the condition

1400-1430

Venom allergy

Sarah Watson (clinical nurse specialist)

This session will explore the rationale for testing for suspected venom allergy and evaluates management.

1430-1500

Break

 

1500-1545

Pregnancy, infant feeding, early introduction

Dr Tom Marrs (consultant allergist)

 

This session will explore the role of pregnancy and early life exposures including infant feeding in food allergy

1545-1630

Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome

Anna Conrad (Dietician)

This session will explore FPIES including diagnosis and management

1630

Q&A & close of the day

 

 

 


 Day 3:  Face to Face Tuesday 2nd June 2026

 

10 Union Street venue

 

Time

Title

Speakers

0900-0910

Introduction to the day

Rachel De Boer Dietician

0910-1010

Case study with interactive history taking

·       Investigations

·       Medications

·       Advice and ongoing management

Non IgE-mediated versus IgE-mediated case study

Rachel De Boer and Rebecca Brocklehurst (dieticians)

 

(DISH clinic case study)

 

1010-1030

Tea break

 

1030-1115  

Case Study Discussion – Anaphylaxis on Day Unit

·       Use of food challenges

·       Recognition and management of anaphylaxis

Criteria for positive food challenge PRACTALL

Rebecca Batt (allergy nurse consultant)

1115-1145

Food Avoidance, selective nut eating, Food labelling

Rapid fire session- each topic 10 mins

Rebecca Brocklehurst (dietician)

1145-1230

 Non-IgE allergies in adults: “When it is not IgE mediated allergy & other stories”

 

Marianne Williams

1230-1315 

Lunch

 

1315-1400  

 

Milk oral  Immunotherapy

Bethan Tweedie (dietician)

1400-1445

Tricky case studies

Dr Amirah Khair (SpR in paediatric allergy)

1445-1500  

Break

 

1500-1545

 

Adult Food Allergy Cases

Including WDEIA (wheat dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis), Pollen food syndrome and LTP

Hannah Hunter (specailist adult allergy dietician)

1545-1645pm

Psychological impact of allergy

Explore the impact of allergic disease, tools to help identify and support patients as well as exploring issues around health beliefs

Dr Leah Kugelmass (clinical psychologist)

.

1645

Close of the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4: Practical day Face to Face – Wednesday 3rd June 2026

 

Simulation and Interactive Learning Centre (SaIL) St Thomas hospital

 

Group 1:

 

 

 

Time

Title

Speakers

0900-0910

Welcome to the practical day

AA faculty

0910-1000

Practical Skin Prick Testing and

Drug Allergy Testing –

A practical session, giving students the opportunity to practice SPT.

Intradermal testing

 

Lauren Dann (allergy nurse)

1000-1015

Break

 

1015-1115

Conversations for empowerment – communication styles

 

Russell Harvey

(coach)

 

 

1115-1200

Eczema practical management

This session will give students the opportunity to practice and get to know the different emollients and topical treatments in the management of eczema

Olivia Nugent Dermatology clinical nurse specialist  

 

1200-1245

Workshop session: Practical management of respiratory illness. Students will have the opportunity to practice using the various devices

 

Ashira – Asthma nurse

 

12.45-1330

Lunch

 

1330-1615

SAIL centre for practical management of allergic reactions

Sophisticated mannequin simulators will enable students to immerse themselves in a lifelike anaphylaxis situation. 

 

Academy Allergy Faculty

1615-1630

End of course discussions

 

Academy Allergy Faculty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group 2

 

 

 

Time

Title

Outcomes

0900-0910

Welcome to the practical day

AA faculty

0900-1200

SAIL centre for practical management of allergic reactions

Sophisticated mannequin simulators will enable students to immerse themselves in a lifelike anaphylaxis situation. 

 

Academy Allergy Faculty

1200-1245

Lunch

 

1245-1330

Workshop session: Practical management of respiratory illness. Students will have the opportunity to practice using the various devices

 

Ashira – Asthma nurse

 

1330- 1430

Conversations for empowerment – communication styles

 

Russell Harvey

(coach)

 

 

1430-1445

Break

 

1445 -1530

Practical Skin Prick Testing and

Drug Allergy Testing –

A practical session, giving students the opportunity to practice SPT.

Intradermal testing

 

Lauren Dann (allergy nurse)

1530 -1615

Eczema practical management

This session will give students the opportunity to practice and get to know the different emollients and topical treatments in the management of eczema

Olivia Nugent Dermatology clinical nurse specialist  

 

1615-1630

End of course discussions

 

Allergy Academy Faculty