About Dr Helen
Masters in Allergy
Hi! I’m Dr Helen. A huge welcome to Dr Helen Allergy. If you have come to Dr Helen Allergy looking for advice about whether you or your family member has food allergies; how to manage your airborne allergies or eczema, concerns about gut symptoms or insect stings; then you’re in the right place.
Personal experience with allergies
I developed a personal interest in allergy when my son Ethan was born as he had milk and nut allergies. I quickly realised how little I knew about allergy and made so many mistakes in his care. I remember feeling lost and worried; not knowing how to keep him safe and no one gave me the skills I needed to do this
It was Ethan that led me to learn more about allergies and when I was heavily pregnant with my youngest, GG, I undertook a Masters in Allergy at Southampton University. Back I went to Southampton for a second medical degree, but this time there was no fresher’s week or dodgy cocktails, just a busy juggling act of a full-time job, two children and pregnancy! The course was fantastic, and I qualified with distinction.
Masters in Allergy
Hi! I’m Dr Helen. A huge welcome to Dr Helen Allergy. If you have come to Dr Helen Allergy looking for advice about whether you or your family member has food allergies; how to manage your airborne allergies or eczema, concerns about gut symptoms or insect stings; then you’re in the right place.
Personal experience with allergies
I developed a personal interest in allergy when my son Ethan was born as he had milk and nut allergies. I quickly realised how little I knew about allergy and made so many mistakes in his care. The poor soul is often the comedy story to my lectures now but at the time, I was lost and worried; not knowing how to keep him safe.
It was Ethan that led me to learn more about allergies and when I was heavily pregnant with my youngest, GG, I undertook a Masters in Allergy at Southampton University. Back I went to Southampton for a second medical degree, but this time there was no fresher’s week or dodgy cocktails, just a busy juggling act of a full-time job, two children and pregnancy! The course was fantastic, and I qualified with distinction.
Primary Care Chair of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
After this I worked with the Southampton Allergy Team for almost 5 years. Here I gained the clinical experience I needed to understand allergies and assess, manage and treat those with allergies.
Due to my unique role of being a mum of children with allergies, a GP and having worked in specialist allergy services; I am often asked to lecture across the UK and Internationally – sharing my knowledge and experience. Nowadays my goal is to upskill GPs to ensure that people like my son get the best possible care.
From 2017-2020 I was the primary care chair of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; a role which was daunting but filled me with pride and great learning opportunities. I am now a trustee for Anaphylaxis UK (previously called Anaphylaxis Campaign) and chair their Clinical and Scientific Panel. I am super excited to be involved with the charity at a time of great change and development.
Learn to live well with allergies
My aspiration in life is to ensure that everyone with allergies accesses the support they need to live well with allergies. It is this which has driven me to develop courses for families and patients to give them all the information they need to learn how to manage allergy; information which is hard to access in a one-hour consultation. Keep an eye out on our courses tab for our latest releases or subscribe to my email list to find out more.
When I’m not at work, I love nothing better than spending time with my five children… no, I’m lying, I love nothing better than having a quiet glass of wine with my husband or walking the puppies on the beach. With five children and a full time job, you can imagine how often that happens?!
