Allergy and Immunology

Role and Function

A Paediatric Allergy Education Day

for Paediatricians – Saturday 20th March 2010

Allergy and Immunology was formed in May 2006, following the merger of the separate Allergy and Immunology groups at the hospital. There has been a rapid rise in allergic disease in the last 30 years and community demand for allergy and immunology services has reached unprecedented levels.To address this increased demand, the Department has expanded its clinical service by increasing the number of appointments available and it is investing in training of the next generation of allergy specialists to better meet the needs of the community.

Our Vision

Our vision is "to improve the health of children with allergic and immune disorders" through the Department's core business of "advancing knowledge, clinical practice, public health policy and research in the field of allergic and immune disorders".

Our aim to provide secondary and tertiary outpatient and inpatient care for children with allergic and immune disorders in Victoria. This includes children with food, drug, insect sting and latex allergy causing moderate to severe allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis), eczema, asthma, hay-fever, immune deficiency and recurrent infection.

Our Purpose

We deliver the highest quality clinical care to children and families with allergic and immune disorders. We play a vital role in increasing awareness, understanding and knowledge of allergic and immune disorders in the community and amongst health professionals through education, teaching and training. We play a leadership role in the development and improvement of health care policies and guidelines related to allergic and immune disorders. We also actively identify and pursue research priorities to prevent and improve management of these conditions.

We do this by:

Providing multidisciplinary and evidence based secondary, tertiary and quaternary clinical care
A commitment to training and development of the highest calibre allergy immunology specialists, paediatricians with a special interest in allergy, clinical nurse consultants and allied health professionals in the field
Delivering of the community education programmes and resources
Shaping clinical practice by actively participating in national and international expert committees and peak professional bodies
Driving optimal health policy by providing expert opinion informed by research and clinical knowledge
Leading internationally recognised research into causative mechanisms, prevention and treatment of allergic and immune disorders
Collaboration with community, government and professional stakeholders
A team of passionate and dedicated professionals committed to our purpose

Links and Partnerships

The Department internally has links with the Departments of Nutrition and Food Services (Dietetics), Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, and General Paediatrics.

External Links and Partnerships

Professional Organisations

Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
Australian Society of Immunology
Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Royal College of Pathologists Australasia
General Practitioner Divisions via Liaison Officer Susan Jury

Government

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Human Services

Community Groups, Charities and not for profit

Anaphylaxis Australia Inc
The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation
National Asthma Council Australia
Ambulance Victoria First Aid
Australian Red Cross

Hours of Operation

Hours of operation are currently 8.30 am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: allergy.clinic@rch.org.au

Clinic Operation Hours

Monday to Friday

8.30 am to 5.00pm

In total we run 14 outpatient clinics sessions, 7 challenge day-inpatient clinics and 2 allergen de-sensitisation day-inpatient clinic per week.

Location of the Department and Physical Facilities

We are situated on the 2nd floor of the North West Building.

Physical Facilities

Consulting Rooms	Four
Large Treatment Room	One
Skin Prick Testing Room	One
Waiting Room facility

Clinical Services

Evaluation and treatment of allergic conditions including asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis, food, insect, drug, latex allergies and immune disorders.
Diagnostic Testing including skin prick tests, intradermal skin prick tests, patch testing and challenge tests.
Immunotherapy for insect venom, aeroallergens such as house dust mite and pollens.

Last Updated 19-Oct-2009. Authorised by: Mimi Tang. Enquiries: Wilma Grant.