For families living with food allergies, eczema, asthma or allergic rhinitis, questions can arise at any time: a reaction at school, an eczema flare, concerns about medication, travelling with allergies, introducing new foods, or helping a teenager become more independent in managing their condition.
The Allergy Centre of Excellence (ACE), founded by Professors Gideon Lack, George Du Toit and Adam Fox, has launched Allergy Assist, an app-based service designed to give families easier access to specialist allergy support between traditional clinic appointments.
ACE is a specialist allergy centre registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide regulated health and care services and is recognised within GA²LEN’s ANACARE network for anaphylaxis and food allergy care.
Allergy Assist brings together specialist allergy nurses and other members of the ACE clinical team through a digital service designed to complement, rather than replace, face-to-face, urgent or emergency medical care.
Support for the Everyday Challenges of Allergy Management
Families can use Allergy Assist for support with a wide range of allergy-related questions and practical situations.
These can include food allergy management, eczema care, asthma and allergic rhinitis, pollen and house dust mite allergies, weaning and the introduction of allergens, starting school, travelling, eating out and helping adolescents become more confident in managing their own allergies.
The service can also provide support following an accidental allergic reaction, help families understand clinic letters and test results, and offer advice around treatment plans and immunotherapy.
Where clinically appropriate, qualified prescribers within the service can also prescribe medication remotely and provide training in the use of prescribed adrenaline devices.
Access to Specialist Support Through the App
Allergy Assist is built around access to specialist clinical support through an app.
Depending on the membership package, features can include:
- In-app messaging with specialist allergy nurses during published service hours.
- Telephone and video consultations.
- Remote prescribing where clinically appropriate.
- Access to educational videos and clinically reviewed information.
- Virtual support groups.
- Specialist dietitian support.
- Psychological support for families living with allergic conditions.
- Discounts with selected allergy-friendly brands and products.
The service operates within defined hours and appointment availability depends on the membership package and current capacity.
Helping Families Between Appointments
Hannah Kramer, Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Allergy Centre of Excellence (ACE), said: “As well as being able to view your allergy action plan and book virtual consultations, the app also provides a dedicated library of expert-created educational resources to enhance and support your child’s care whenever you need it! Our resource library includes 30 clinically reviewed information leaflets and 17 instructional and educational videos.
“All materials are free to access in the Allergy Assist app and are designed to make managing allergic conditions easier and more understandable. For instance, if your child is prescribed a nasal spray, you can watch our simple, step-by-step video demonstrating exactly how to use it.”
Hannah Kramer, Clinical Nurse Specialist at The Allergy Centre of Excellence (ACE)
The service also offers virtual small-group support sessions every two months with psychologist Dr Karen Murphy. Platinum members also benefit from an annual appointment with a specialist allergy dietitian and psychologist.
On the need for the service, Hannah said: “Through conversations with the families we support, it became clear that many feel the burden of managing the day-to-day realities of allergic conditions. While patients may see their consultant only a few times a year, allergies are a constant presence—bringing unexpected reactions, eczema flares, medication questions and challenges at school. Many parents find themselves having to become experts, carrying the weight of decisions alone. Allergy Assist was created to share that burden…
“As food allergies often fall into a ‘grey area’ between overstretched public services and strict private insurance exclusions, Allergy Assist also aims to close the gaps in support that many families face when dealing with food allergies. With access to specialist nurses at the touch of a button, and the reassurance that those nurses are supported by a wider team (including our professors, psychologist and dietitian) – it’s like having a world-class allergy team in your pocket.”
Specialist Allergy Care Through a Digital Service
The Allergy Assist nursing team includes clinicians with extensive experience in allergy, asthma and eczema care.
The service is designed to give families another way to access professional support while continuing to work alongside their existing consultants, GPs and other healthcare professionals.
The Allergy Assist team at the Allergy Centre of Excellence (ACE) // L-R: Adele Durge, Rebecca Bryson, Hannah Kramer (Clinical Nurse Specialists)
Hannah added: “We believe that working in a service where we have the time and resources to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives is a privilege. Allergy Assist is defining a new category of allergy care in the UK: a fully app-based service delivering continuous support to families whenever they need it, following a unique care model that is designed to work alongside traditional clinic models.
“At the Allergy Centre of Excellence, our mission is to provide the best possible care to all of our patients. We strive to ensure that all our patients receive patient-centred, effective, and responsive care to serve their individual needs. We are committed to providing the highest safety standards which is supported by clinicians who are renowned in the field of allergy. This Allergy Assist service has been built by meeting with families and asking them what it should offer, that’s something we are very proud of.”
Recent patient feedback from the mother of a patient aged 12 stated: “Speaking to Nurse Specialist, Rebecca today felt like a much-needed chat with a friend. Rebecca was kind, sympathetic and understood deeply what allergy families feel. We’ve got a plan in place that feels just right for us. Both my hubby and I could have cried with joy. The support felt surreal. The psychological support as well as the clinical science input, is a formula that’s been missing in our lives so far… you guys have made it happen. Thank you for the bottom of our hearts. We needed this!”
Important Safety Information
Allergy Assist is not an emergency service.
Anyone with a diagnosed allergy should follow their individual allergy action plan and the advice provided by their healthcare professional.
If anaphylaxis is suspected, prescribed adrenaline should be used immediately in accordance with the person’s emergency action plan and 999 should be called.
Antihistamines may be recommended for some mild allergic symptoms, but they do not treat anaphylaxis and should not delay the use of adrenaline when anaphylaxis is suspected.
Families should seek urgent medical help if someone develops symptoms such as difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, collapse, marked dizziness or other symptoms identified in their allergy emergency plan.
A New Way to Access Ongoing Allergy Support
Allergy Assist reflects a wider shift towards giving patients more ways to access specialist healthcare outside traditional clinic appointments.
For families managing allergies, asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis, that can mean having somewhere to turn for professional guidance when questions arise between appointments.
Rather than replacing existing clinical care, Allergy Assist is designed to sit alongside it, giving families access to specialist allergy support, educational resources and selected clinical services through one digital platform.
