Northern Trust cuts children’s allergy waits with new specialist clinics

Dr Martin Hanna, Consultant Paediatrician; Lesley Kennedy, Paediatric Asthma & Allergy Nurse Specialist and Anne Marie Campbell, Allergy Dietitian.

Children waiting for specialist allergy care in the Northern Trust area are being seen faster after a series of additional evening clinics helped tackle lengthy paediatric waiting lists at Antrim Area Hospital.

The extra clinics, funded by the Department of Health, were introduced specifically to reduce delays for children needing assessment and treatment for allergies — while also improving the overall experience for families navigating complex care needs.

The initiative brought together a multidisciplinary team including a Paediatric Consultant, a Paediatric Asthma & Allergy Nurse Specialist, and an Allergy Dietitian, allowing young patients to receive coordinated care during a single appointment rather than attending multiple separate visits.

Targeted clinics aimed at highest-risk children

Waiting lists were reviewed by the Northern Trust to identify children considered most at risk, with those patients then invited to attend the additional evening clinics at Antrim Area Hospital.

During appointments, children were assessed by the consultant and received any necessary follow-up support from the wider specialist team during the same visit.

The Trust said the approach reduced the need for repeated hospital trips and helped streamline care for families already dealing with the pressures and uncertainty that can come with childhood allergies.

Parents who attended the clinics have also reported positive experiences, particularly around the education and guidance provided to families managing allergies at home.

Parents praise child-friendly approach

Dr Martin Hanna, Consultant Paediatrician; Lesley Kennedy, Paediatric Asthma & Allergy Nurse Specialist and Anne Marie Campbell, Allergy Dietitian.

Clare Corrigan, from the Mid-Ulster area, whose seven-year-old child attended the service, described the clinics as a positive experience from referral through to treatment.

“We were referred by the GP and thankfully didn’t have too long to wait,” she said.

“Overall, we had a positive experience. The staff were very welcoming and very children friendly.

“I felt that the education aspect was very important – it helped me feel confident in knowing what to do and how to deal with allergies going forward.”

The Northern Trust said combining specialist expertise into a single clinic setting has helped improve both clinical outcomes and the experience for patients and their families.

Specialist staff say initiative is making a difference

Lesley Kennedy, Northern Trust nurse specialist, said the additional clinics had allowed staff to deliver more timely care to children who needed support most urgently.

“The Waiting List Initiative has allowed us to deliver timely, coordinated care to children who needed it most,” she said.

“By bringing together the right expertise in one clinic, we’ve been able to make a real difference to both clinical outcomes and the experience of families.”

Dr Martin Hanna, Consultant Paediatrician at the Northern Trust, said earlier assessment and diagnosis can play a major role in helping children access the support they need sooner.

“I am very pleased that this initiative has enabled our paediatric patients to be seen sooner than would have been otherwise possible,” he said.

“Earlier assessment allows for more timely diagnosis and access to the support they need, so the additional clinics are very welcome.

“While clinic capacity has not allowed us see every patient immediately, there has been a clear overall benefit in reducing the waiting list, which in turn shortens the waiting times for those still to be seen.”

The latest initiative comes amid continuing pressure across health services in Northern Ireland to reduce waiting lists and improve access to specialist care, particularly for children and families facing long delays for appointments.