Nobody should be living in fear, it's not a nice place to be. Believe me, I've been there. I have spent years too frightened to eat out. Scared people will laugh at me or think I'm a freak. Fearful that I will stand out, cause a fuss, be a pain in the allergic backside. But that's all stopping now. Since last year when I decided I was going to demand better and not hide … [Read more...]
The European Anaphylaxis Task Force – working for you!
Before going to EAACI in June I had never even heard of the European Anaphylaxis Task Force but it does indeed exist and its aim is to establish a patient driven stakeholder platform across Europe. Frans Timmermans is the President and CEO of this task force and is based in The Netherlands. I attended a seminar the day before which Frans chaired which brought together all … [Read more...]
Raising awareness about allergies at the Houses of Parliament
Over a hundred people packed into the Attlee Suite at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 16th October to hear expert speakers discussing trends in the prevalence of allergic disease and the underlying causes, provision of clinical allergy services and comment on progress made since the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's report on the topic in 2007. The … [Read more...]
99 year old allergy specialist doctor nearing 100th birthday and still practicing!
This week I found out about a pretty amazing man and I can't believe I haven't heard of Dr Bill Frankland before. He was on the One Show on Tuesday 28th February and at 99 years old he is still practicing as a doctor at St Mary's hospital in London, what an inspiration! Not just because he's nearing his 100th birthday and still working, but Dr Frankland has pioneered allergy … [Read more...]
National Allergy Strategy Group parliamentary reception – inspirational, emotional and packed!
I'm just back from a brilliant parliamentary reception organised by the National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG), aimed at raising awareness of allergies amongst MPs and the government as a whole. Jo Swinson, in a very nice blue jacket Jo Swinson MP for East Dunbartonshire chaired the event and was incredibly supportive of the concerns of everyone in the room. She totally … [Read more...]