Health Essential
Bryncelyn
St Maughans
Monmouth, UK
NP25 5QQ
Tel: 01600 716 456
Fax: 01600 715 730
enquiries@healthessential.co.uk
Monmouth Allergy Clinic
Do you have an allergy?
Allergies affect nearly 1 in 3 people in the UK and although allergies cause day to day misery, few of our over stretched GPs have sufficient time available to take an in-depth allergy history - essential for a complete allergy diagnosis.Health Essential is a mainstream provider of low-cost, high quality, private healthcare services to local government and multinational companies and now offers an accessible and affordable nurse led service with the support of qualified biomedical scientists to help you identify which allergens are causing your symptoms.
All our nurses are trained in the diagnosis and management of allergy by Education for Health, the UK's leading provider of professional allergy training for nurses.
A clinical history consultation will identify which allergens are most likely responsible for your symptoms. Your sensitivity to these allergens can then be confirmed by testing a small blood sample for specific antibodies known as Immunoglobulin E (IgE).
Frequently asked questions
Where is your clinic?
Our clinic is located in Monmouth with easy access from South Wales, the Midlands and the South West.Do I need to be referred by my doctor?
No, this is a private service and you can refer yourself. To make an appointment please call Health Essential on 01600 716 456.What happens when I have made my appointment?
We will send you full details to include directions, the name of the nurse who you will be seeing and how best to prepare for your appointment. Free parking is available on site.On arrival you will be introduced to your nurse who will discuss your clinical history of allergy prior to appropriate blood tests to confirm sensitivity to specific allergy triggers. Please allow at least 30 minutes for your consultation.
What is the benefit of using your service?
Our nurses have undergone specific additional professional training in the diagnosis and management of allergy and will conduct an in depth consultation with you into your allergy history. This is an essential first step to obtaining an accurate allergy diagnosis.If an allergy is the likely cause of your symptoms you will be offered the option of blood tests to identify sensitivity to specific allergens.
Your test results will be confirmed in writing with an explanation on how they relate to your symptoms and what further action you can take. If you wish, we will also send a copy of your results for your doctor.
Do I need to stop taking my allergy or asthma medication?
No. Please continue to take any medicines as prescribed. Blood tests for IgE antibodies are not affected by medication.Which allergens do you test for?
We provide a service that is relevant, accurate, quick and affordable. We test for sensitivity to a wide range of food and inhalant allergens most likely to be triggering your symptoms.How long does it take to get the results?
Blood tests results are available within a week. However, if there are likely to be any delays you will be contacted and advised accordingly.What follow up advice will I get with my results?
Your test results will be interpreted with reference to your allergy history and appropriate information will be sent to you with specific advice and guidance. We will also provide correspondence for your GP.How accurate are the tests?
The aim of our blood tests are to detect IgE antibodies, a procedure accepted by allergy experts as an accurate method for detecting sensitivity.The tests are performed by an accredited laboratory with experience and expertise in providing pathology services for the government and the NHS. These types of tests are based on the RAST principle and have been used in hospital laboratories for over 40 years.
Will the tests be accepted by my doctor?
Yes, the accepted route for allergy diagnosis is a thorough allergy history followed by specific tests to measure the levels of IgE antibodies in a blood sample for the allergens indicated by the clinical historyWho is your scientific advisor for the allergy tests?
Our scientific advisor is Dr John Rees BSc(Hons) who has a PhD in allergy from St Bartholomew's Hospital for his research work on house dust mite allergy and has been a member of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for over 20 years. Dr Rees has presented his research work at international scientific allergy meetings and is a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science.Can I get these tests for free through my doctor?
Allergy tests are available through your NHS doctor. However, you may have to wait a long time for a consultation and test results.What is the difference between allergy and intolerance?
Allergies are usually immediate reactions triggered by an overreaction to everyday substances and can be detected by the presence of specific antibodies in the blood known as IgE. Intolerances generally don’t involve the immune system and symptoms usually do not occur immediately. A common food intolerance to gluten (coeliac disease) can be tested for with a simple blood test.Is it possible to just have a consultation without any blood tests?
Yes, blood tests are entirely optional. The consultation and confirmatory tests are priced separately so you will not need to undertake blood tests if you don’t wish to or if we advise that they are probably unnecessaryWhat payment methods are accepted?
You can pay by credit card, debit card, cheque or cash at the time of your appointment.What guarantee do you offer?
All our tests are medically recognised and are CE accredited according to the European In Vitro Diagnostics Directive 98/79/EC as medical devices for the detection of allergen specific IgE antibodies. All our nurses are registered and have undergone additional professional training in the diagnosis and management of allergy. All allergy test results must be interpreted with regards to your allergy history. As a responsible healthcare provider we may advise that you should seek additional advice from your doctor or a registered dietician.Please refer to our main web site at www.healthessential.co.uk for full information about our services, terms and conditions.
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Health Essential, Bryncelyn, St Maughans, Monmouth, NP25 5QQ
Tel: 01600 716 456 | Fax: 01600 715 730
Email: enquiries@healthessential.co.uk