Specialist allergy clinic opens in Canterbury

The clinic is based at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Kent's first specialist allergy clinic has opened in Canterbury.

Based at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, it can treat a range of conditions.

GPs can now refer patients directly to the clinic, which is run by the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

According to the Royal College of Physicians, one in three people will develop an allergy at some point in their lives.

Dr Leman Mutlu, who heads the new clinic, said: "I have already spoken to one patient who was offered treatment for a wasp allergy in London.

"The treatment is 95% effective in curing the life-threatening allergy.

"However, as it meant they had to be in London weekly for 12 weeks, they decided to turn the treatment down and continue to live with the risk of a reaction, which means being prepared to execute an emergency management plan and avoiding certain activities completely, such as gardening. I am so pleased this is about to change."

The new clinic will also work on research with the University of Kent and Canterbury Christchurch University.