Allergy service achieves global honours
Specialist teams at Barts Health NHS Trust are celebrating a major double milestone after receiving both national accreditation and global recognition for their Allergy and Severe Asthma services.
The trust’s Allergy service, based at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, has achieved full accreditation from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), placing it among just nine centres in the UK to reach this standard.
The award follows a three-year programme of improvement, during which the team reviewed and strengthened every aspect of the service, from clinical protocols and patient pathways to facilities and communications. This culminated in a full-day inspection by independent assessors, including clinicians and patient representatives.
In its report, the RCP praised the service as a "formidable and high-performing team", highlighting its strong leadership, multidisciplinary approach and excellent patient feedback. Its innovative penicillin de-labelling pathway - helping patients safely access more appropriate antibiotics - was singled out as an example of best practice and was recently shortlisted for an HSJ Patient Safety Award.
The accreditation is widely regarded as a mark of excellence and commits the service to continuous improvement through annual reviews and five-year reassessment. The report also highlighted the importance of securing a permanent day case unit and expanding consultant capacity to meet growing demand.
Just two weeks later, this success was further strengthened when the combined Allergy and Severe Asthma service - both part of the trust’s wider Respiratory services - was named a World Allergy Organization Centre of Excellence for 2026-2029, one of only seven centres in the UK.
The designation recognises leading international services that combine high-quality clinical care with research, education and global collaboration. Barts Health was selected for its multidisciplinary expertise, strong research portfolio and its role in training and mentoring clinicians worldwide.
The Allergy service brings together specialist consultants, nurses, patient pathway coordinators and a wider team including pharmacists and dietitians to care for patients across east London and beyond.
Consultant Dr Runa Ali said: "This is a huge achievement for our entire team. Over the past few years we have worked hard to transform the service - improving access, safety and patient experience. To be recognised both nationally and globally is something we are incredibly proud of."
The recognition comes at a time when allergic disease is rising rapidly across the UK. Around one in three adults and nearly 40% of children are affected, with food allergies doubling in the last decade and hospital admissions for severe reactions continuing to increase.
A national allergy strategy published in April 2026 and shaped by expert organisations including the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology, of which Dr Ali is a director, has highlighted the urgent need for better access to specialist care, earlier diagnosis and more equitable services, priorities reflected in the work at Barts Health.
Dr Ali said: "These conditions disproportionately affect more diverse and deprived communities, making high-quality, specialist services like Barts Health’s increasingly vital for the populations we serve in east London and beyond."
'I have got my life back'
The impact of this specialist care can be life-changing for patients. Laura was referred to our allergy clinic after suffering a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to a wasp sting. Assessment by the team revealed she was highly allergic to wasp venom and also had uncontrolled asthma, a factor known to increase the risk of severe allergic reactions.
After her asthma was brought under control, Laura became eligible for venom immunotherapy, a specialist treatment that helps build tolerance to wasp venom and reduce the risk of future life-threatening reactions.
Laura, who is now undergoing a three-year course of treatment, can now enjoy spending time outdoors without the constant fear of another severe allergic reaction. She said the treatment had transformed her quality of life: "I am no longer scared. I have got my life back."
Read more