Paediatric Allergy
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Allergy at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Paediatric Allergy service, based at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital provides outpatient clinics and day-case treatment throughout the week, offering diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management for children with a wide range of allergic conditions.
Observers and fellows will gain structured exposure to paediatric allergy practice within a specialist children’s hospital environment. Learning is centred on assessment, diagnostic testing, food and drug challenge pathways, anaphylaxis prevention, immunotherapy and practical multidisciplinary working with specialist doctors, nurses and dietitians.
The service is part of the North West Children’s Allergy Network and works with regional hospitals, GPs, dietitians and patient representatives. The network was recognised as a designated paediatric site in the Royal College of Physicians’ Future Hospital Scheme 2016–2017.
The programme is suitable for international doctors and aspiring clinicians seeking experience in specialist paediatric allergy care, NHS outpatient and day-case pathways, family education and risk management.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
The North West Children’s Allergy Network was recognised in the Royal College of Physicians’ Future Hospital Scheme 2016–2017, with RMCH identified as the designated paediatric site.
Dr Peter Arkwright has contributed to the establishment of the Department of Paediatric Allergy and Immunology and the North West Paediatric Allergy Network, with internationally recognised research activity and more than 200 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr Peter Arkwright received the BSACI William Frankland Award in 2024 for outstanding services in clinical allergy in the UK.
RMCH-affiliated publications include work on peanut allergy testing, home-based maintenance of unresponsiveness after peanut allergy treatment, national anaphylaxis data and rare immune-mediated disease.
Rare and complex cases
- Children with mild, moderate and severe allergic disease.
- Food allergy, including peanut and milk allergy, with diagnostic testing and challenge pathways.
- Eczema, asthma, hay fever, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and chronic urticaria within integrated allergy care.
- Less common allergies such as mastocytosis and eosinophilic oesophagitis.
- Drug allergy and venom allergy assessment.
- Immunotherapy pathways using subcutaneous, sublingual and oral desensitisation strategies.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Paediatric Allergy
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Describe how a specialist NHS paediatric allergy service is organised across outpatient, day-case and inpatient pathways.
- Observe assessment of children with food allergy, aeroallergy, eczema, asthma, hay fever, chronic urticaria, drug allergy, venom allergy and anaphylaxis risk.
- Understand the role of skin prick testing, blood testing, food challenges and drug challenges in diagnosis and care planning.
- Explain how multidisciplinary input from doctors, nurses and dietitians supports safe allergy management.
- Recognise how comprehensive allergy management plans, school liaison and community education support long-term safety.
- Observe patient and family education, including auto-injector training and risk-reduction advice.
- Compare NHS governance, safeguarding, documentation and patient-safety approaches with allergy practice in the observer’s home setting.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Allergy
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Develop supervised experience in the assessment and management of children with a broad range of allergic conditions.
- Build confidence in diagnostic reasoning for food allergy, drug allergy, venom allergy, asthma-related allergy, eczema-related allergy and anaphylaxis risk.
- Contribute to allergy clinic discussions, diagnostic planning and multidisciplinary care planning under consultant supervision.
- Strengthen understanding of food and drug challenge pathways, immunotherapy and oral desensitisation approaches.
- Develop practical understanding of safety planning, auto-injector education, family counselling and liaison with schools and community services.
- Engage with audit, quality improvement, teaching or research activity.
- Translate learning into service development, specialist practice or leadership improvement in the fellow’s home health system.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in the relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in the relevant or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.