What we see
The immunology department at the MRI sees patients with the below conditions. There are some conditions considered to be related to the immune system that we do not routinely see patients for, and we have listed some of these also. We also have a web page with referral guidance for other doctors and health care professionals (HCP), as all patients must be referred into the department by an NHS HCP. Our referral guidance can be found here.
Immunology:
- Patients with immunodeficiency
- Patients with hereditary and acquired angioedema
Allergy:
- Food allergy
- Venom allergy
- Drug allergy
- Latex allergy
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergic asthma – only to assess allergic triggers
- Angioedema
- Anaphylaxis
- Allergic complications of mastocytosis
The below conditions are not routinely seen in the MRI Immunology/Allergy clinics:
- HIV infection
- Autoimmunity / autoinflammatory disease
- Mast cell activation
- Delayed contact hypersensitivity (contact dermatitis)
- Intolerances
- Spontaneous urticaria
For further information on these conditions please contact your GP.
Advice given in clinic
When you attend one of our clinics (either in person or virtually) your probable diagnosis (name for the condition you have / it’s thought you have) will be discussed with you, along with a management plan, which will be agreed with you.
The information given to you in clinic will be sent in a letter to your GP or the referring clinician (with a copy to your GP). You will be copied into this letter. We will aim to send the letter within 7 days of your appointment.
Our letters may include:
- The diagnosis/probable diagnosis
- A list of your medications
- Management plan – this will include an emergency treatment plan if appropriate
- Information about any investigations such as blood tests (either done or arrangements for you to have them done), skin tests or challenge tests
- Information on what happens next, for example:
-
- if your case needs to be discussed in a Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting (MDT),
- if there are plans for a day case or similar procedure
- when your next follow up will be or if you are being discharged from the clinic
Prescriptions
You may be given a prescription to take to our in-hospital pharmacy to collect medication. Alternatively, if the medication does not need to be started immediately you may be given a note to hand in at your GP reception or we will write to your GP with advice on treating the condition.
As many appointments are currently being held remotely, we may ask your GP to prescribe medication that you can collect from your local pharmacy.
Many medications for allergy are cheaper bought over the counter than on a prescription. We would usually advise you of this during your clinic appointment.
If you are prescribed adrenaline autoinjector pens (called EpiPen, Jext or Emerade) you will need to learn how to use this. Please consider watching the training videos on the manufacturers’ website (see links below). You can also register your pen on the manufacturer’s website for expiry alerts.
Links to adrenaline autoinjector manufacturers’ webpages: