Concierge allergy · London
Desensitisation treatment, the only allergy therapy that changes the disease.
Allergen immunotherapy — SCIT injections, SLIT tablets, oral immunotherapy for peanut, and drug desensitisation — arranged with a consultant allergist in a resuscitation-equipped facility.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Consultant immunologist or allergist, named
A named clinician on the BSACI or EAACI register — not a general practice nurse, not a supplement shop.
- 02
Resuscitation-equipped facility for SCIT
Injection immunotherapy carries a small risk of anaphylaxis. Every first dose is given where adrenaline, oxygen and a doctor are in the room.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the route we recommend — SCIT, SLIT, OIT or drug desensitisation — is the one your evidence supports.
The problem
The right allergen, the right route, the right length of course.
Desensitisation is the only allergy treatment that modifies the disease — but it only works if the allergen is confirmed, the route matches the evidence, and the course runs the full three to five years.
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Is my allergy real?
A positive skin prick or IgE alone is not enough — sensitisation without symptoms is not an indication. We confirm clinical relevance first.
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Which route fits?
Grass, mite, tree, ragweed — SLIT tablet at home. Venom — SCIT injections. Peanut in a child — Palforzia in a specialist centre. The evidence, not preference, decides.
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Will I actually finish?
Three to five years is the honest answer. Courses shorter than that give little lasting benefit. We tell you before you start, not after.
The journey
From testing to tolerance — a three to five year course, in order.
One clinician from the diagnostic test to the final annual review — including the mechanism that carries you for years after.
Phase 1 · Before treatment
Diagnostic and decision
Phase 2 · Start and build-up
First supervised dose, then escalation
Phase 3 · Maintenance
3–5 years, then benefit persists
- 01
Before
Diagnostic workup first
Skin prick tests, specific IgE or ISAC — desensitisation only works when the trigger is confirmed and clinically relevant.
- 02
Before
Shared decision on route
SCIT vs SLIT vs oral immunotherapy — weighed against your allergen, control on current treatment, adherence and comorbidity.
- 03
Build-up
First supervised dose
Given in clinic with an hour of observation. Adrenaline auto-injector prescribed and technique taught before you leave.
- 04
Build-up
Build-up phase
SCIT: weekly injections for 3–6 months. SLIT: daily tablet at home after the first supervised dose. OIT: fortnightly up-dosing in a specialist unit.
- 05
Maintenance
Maintenance phase
Monthly SCIT injections, or daily SLIT/OIT at home, for 3–5 years — the duration required for lasting tolerance.
- 06
Maintenance
Annual review and outcome
Symptom and medication scores tracked yearly. Most patients notice meaningful benefit by the end of year one; disease modification lasts years after stopping.
- 07
Maintenance
Course completion
After 3–5 years the course ends. Benefits persist for many years in grass, mite and venom protocols — unique among allergy treatments.
Typical course: 3–5 years from first dose to completion. Benefit persists: many years after stopping.
When it helps
When desensitisation is the right next step.
The allergens with the strongest evidence base, and the one contra-indication that means asthma control comes first.
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Bee or wasp venom anaphylaxis
Venom immunotherapy is 95%+ effective at preventing further anaphylaxis — the strongest evidence base of any allergen protocol.
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Grass pollen rhinitis or asthma
Grazax and Oralair (SLIT) or subcutaneous grass extract — for hay fever uncontrolled on antihistamines and nasal steroids.
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House dust mite allergy
Acarizax (SLIT tablet) for perennial mite-driven rhinitis or allergic asthma — a daily tablet at home after a supervised first dose.
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Tree pollen (birch and related)
Itulazax (SLIT) for birch and cross-reactive tree pollen rhinitis — started four months before the season.
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Peanut allergy (age 4–17)
Palforzia — a licensed oral immunotherapy that raises the reaction threshold, run in specialist paediatric centres.
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Ragweed and other pollens
Ragweed SLIT tablets for confirmed ragweed rhinitis. Other pollen extracts available as subcutaneous protocols.
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Drug desensitisation (rush)
Penicillin, aspirin or chemotherapy — a one-day inpatient rush protocol that induces temporary tolerance when the drug is essential.
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Red flag: uncontrolled asthma
Poorly controlled asthma is a contra-indication to starting SCIT — it must be stabilised first, or a systemic reaction can be dangerous.
Treatment options
SCIT, SLIT, OIT or drug desensitisation.
What each route on the table actually involves — and which fits which allergen.
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Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)
Allergist-led injections into the upper arm — weekly build-up for 3–6 months, then monthly maintenance for 3–5 years. Broadest allergen range.
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Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)
A daily tablet or drops held under the tongue at home, after one supervised first dose. Grazax, Oralair, Acarizax, Itulazax and ragweed tablets are licensed in the UK.
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Oral immunotherapy (OIT)
Escalating oral doses of the allergen (peanut, egg, milk) taken daily. Palforzia is the only licensed peanut OIT in the UK — age 4–17, specialist centres only.
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Venom immunotherapy
Subcutaneous bee or wasp venom, weekly then monthly for 5 years. The most effective allergen protocol we have — reduces future anaphylaxis risk to under 5%.
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Drug desensitisation (rush)
A one-day inpatient protocol for penicillin, aspirin, or chemotherapy agents — used when the drug is essential and no alternative exists. Tolerance is temporary.
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Cluster and rush SCIT protocols
Compressed build-up schedules for patients who cannot attend weekly. Faster to maintenance but a slightly higher rate of systemic reactions.
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Allergen avoidance and pharmacotherapy
Not a form of immunotherapy — but the honest first step. Desensitisation is added when avoidance and standard treatment are not enough.
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Consultation only
A clear read of your skin prick, IgE or ISAC results and whether desensitisation is the right next step — no obligation.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of allergists, we picked them.
Consultant immunologists and allergists on the BSACI register. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your allergen and your workup to date.
Selection criteria
How we choose every allergist in our network.
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Consultant immunologists and allergists on the BSACI register
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Resuscitation-equipped facility with a doctor present for every SCIT injection
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Peanut OIT (Palforzia) delivered only in specialist paediatric allergy centres
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Diagnostic testing (skin prick, specific IgE, ISAC) reviewed before any course is offered
Safety and red flags
What to expect — honestly.
Desensitisation is safe when the right patient is selected. The things worth planning are asthma control, medication interactions, adherence and knowing when to use your adrenaline pen.
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Systemic reactions are uncommon but real
SCIT carries a small risk of anaphylaxis in the first 30 minutes after each dose — hence the observation period and the resuscitation trolley in the room.
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Uncontrolled asthma is a contra-indication
A FEV1 under 70% predicted or unstable asthma means SCIT is unsafe until control is restored. SLIT is safer but the rule still stands.
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Beta-blockers reduce adrenaline’s effect
If you take a beta-blocker or ACE inhibitor, tell the allergist — treatment of a reaction is harder and the risk–benefit is reconsidered.
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Adherence matters — and matters more than you think
Skipping SLIT doses or missing monthly SCIT injections breaks the tolerance signal. A course completed at 60% loses most of its lasting benefit.
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A missed maintenance dose has a protocol
Missed a week of SLIT, or a month of SCIT? There is a defined restart schedule — call the clinic before your next dose, not after.
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Local reactions are expected
Mouth itching for SLIT in the first two weeks, or a small swelling at the SCIT injection site, are normal and settle on their own.
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Desensitisation modifies the disease
Unique among allergy treatments — a completed course prevents new sensitisations, reduces asthma progression in children, and lasts years after stopping.
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Autoimmune disease needs a specialist opinion
Active autoimmune disease is a relative contra-indication. It is not an automatic no, but the case is discussed with your other consultants.
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Red flags
Difficulty breathing, tongue swelling, widespread hives or collapse after a dose — use your adrenaline auto-injector and call 999.
Reading your treatment plan
Your immunotherapy plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever route was chosen — SCIT, SLIT, OIT or drug rush — the plan the allergist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Immunology language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the plan before your first dose, just ask.
- 01 Diagnosis
Confirmed allergen and clinical relevance
Which allergen was confirmed on testing, and whether the sensitisation matches your symptoms — desensitisation only works when both are true.
- 02 Protocol
Route, product and schedule
SCIT, SLIT or OIT; the licensed product used (Grazax, Acarizax, Itulazax, Palforzia, venom extract); build-up and maintenance schedule.
- 03 Reactions
Local and systemic reactions recorded
Any mouth itching, injection-site swelling, or systemic reactions during the course — with the adjustment made and the reason.
- 04 Outcome
Symptom score, medication use, next step
Read this first: symptom and medication scores against baseline, whether to continue, and when the course is expected to end.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for allergen immunotherapy varies by insurer and by allergen — venom and licensed SLIT tablets are usually funded when clinically indicated. We confirm cover before starting.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about desensitisation.
Quick answers on route choice, course length, lasting benefit and NHS access.
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What is desensitisation treatment?
Allergen immunotherapy — the repeated administration of a small, then increasing, dose of the allergen you react to, in order to induce lasting immune tolerance. It works by shifting the immune response from IgE-driven allergy towards regulatory T-cell tolerance and IgG4 blocking antibodies. It is the only allergy treatment that modifies the underlying disease.
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SCIT vs SLIT — which is better?
They are both effective and the choice depends on the allergen and on you. SCIT (injections) covers the widest range of allergens and is the gold standard for venom. SLIT (tablets or drops at home) is more convenient, avoids injections, and is licensed for grass, mite, tree and ragweed. Your allergist chooses the route with the strongest evidence for your allergen.
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How long does the course last?
Three to five years is standard, for both SCIT and SLIT. Shorter courses give short-term relief but do not give the lasting, disease-modifying benefit that is the whole point. Venom immunotherapy is usually five years. Peanut OIT (Palforzia) is currently indefinite maintenance.
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Does the benefit last after I stop?
Yes — this is the key difference from antihistamines and nasal steroids. Grass, mite and venom immunotherapy show benefit persisting for many years, often a decade or more, after a completed 3–5 year course. Incomplete courses do not.
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Is it available on the NHS?
Some allergen immunotherapy is available on the NHS in specialist centres — venom, Palforzia in a small number of paediatric units, and some SLIT tablets. Access varies by region. Many patients come to private allergists for faster access and for allergens not routinely funded.
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Is peanut oral immunotherapy safe?
Palforzia raises the reaction threshold in children aged 4–17, so an accidental exposure is less likely to trigger anaphylaxis. It does not cure peanut allergy, and the daily dose has to continue. It is only delivered in specialist paediatric allergy centres because of the reaction rate during up-dosing.
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