Allergy Service

Dr Rachel Baigel, who runs allergy clinics at the North Middlesex Hospital, and is on two national committees contributing to the National Allergy Strategy and the British Registry for Immunotherapy, has brought her allergy expertise to Edgcare. Allergic disease is on the rise, and is estimated to affect 20-40% of the population. At Edgcare, we can offer specialist diagnosis, to both adults and children, including skin prick testing and blood testing, and provide management plans and adrenaline autoinjectors where these are needed.

Skin Prick Tests

Skin prick tests, are a reliable method for diagnosing allergies when interpreted by an experienced healthcare professional alongside a detailed clinical history. Widely used for diagnosing food and environmental allergies, these tests involve placing a small amount of allergen on the forearm, followed by a gentle scratch with a sterile lancet. This can cause a local skin reaction, e.g. a small, itchy hive, indicating a potential allergy. In very rare cases (roughly 1 in 10,000 tests) the skin prick test can cause a more severe allergic reaction, which is why it is performed with emergency equipment available. The test results are available within 10 minutes and the results will be discussed during the appointment.

Blood tests

Allergy blood tests can be used where skin prick testing is not possible. These are slightly less specific than skin prick tests, and can lead to more false positives, therefore skin prick tests are generally the preferred first line investigation for allergy. However, they can be useful to further explore an allergy after the initial skin prick testing has been performed, and if needed, this will be discussed during your appointment. 

Costs

Initial Allergy Consultation £250 – 1 hour consultation

Follow-up Allergy Consultation £200 – 45 minute consultation

Skin Prick Test £175 – (note skin prick tests can only be offered within the context of an allergy consultation with Dr Baigel)