Our Team
Private Practice of Dr Mich Lajeunesse. A holistic approach to children with allergic problems.
About Our Team
At Allergy Healthcare, our team of highly skilled specialists is dedicated to providing expert care and personalised treatment for children and adults with allergies. Led by Dr. Mich Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, a Consultant Paediatric Allergist and Immunologist, our team brings decades of experience in diagnosing and managing a wide range of allergic conditions, from food allergies to eczema and asthma.
We work collaboratively to ensure every patient receives compassionate, evidence-based care. Whether you’re seeking diagnosis, advanced treatments, or ongoing support, our team is here to help you and your family take control of your allergies and live life to the fullest.
The Revd. Dr Mich Erlewyn-Lajeunesse
Mich is a consultant in Paediatric Allergy and Immunology at Southampton Children’s Hospital, a World Allergy Organisation National Centre of Excellence.
He is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Southampton, contributes to postgraduate teaching nationally and is involved in clinical research on food allergy and immunotherapy including the NATASHA study.
He is supported by NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre to undertake research into cow’s milk allergy in children.
In 2018 Mich established the BSACI Registry for Immunotherapy (BRIT), which he also leads.
Mich is a self-supporting minister in the Church of England. He was ordained in 2021 and is serving his curacy in the Winchester Diocese.
Dr Vas Balodima
Dr Balodima is a Consultant Paediatrician with a special interest in Children’s Allergy. She currently works as a Locum Paediatric Consultant at Whittington NHS Trust in London.
She completed her medical degree in Greece and then moved to UK to start her Paediatric Training. She trained in London, Wales and Wessex. She was awarded membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2015. In 2022 she completed the Paediatric and Child Health MSc at Imperial College, London with a dissertation on access to allergen immunotherapy in the UK.
She has been actively involved in food allergy research and worked as a Research Fellow in Southampton Children’s Hospital for the Natasha food immunotherapy study between 2022 and 24. She is a member of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
She can diagnose and treat a wide range of allergic conditions, including food allergies in babies and children, eczema, urticaria, asthma, rhinitis, hay fever, and medication allergies. She has excellent experience and training all areas of paediatric allergy.
Dr Helen Evans-Howells
Dr Helen Evans-Howells is a GP who has specialised in allergy and is highly experienced in the delivery of food oral immunotherapy. Helen became interested in allergy due to her own experiences of managing a child with milk and nut allergies. She undertook the Masters in Allergy at Southampton University and qualified with distinction in 2018.
After working with the allergy team in Southampton Hospital for 4.5years, Helen now runs a private allergy clinic –www.drhelenallergy.co.uk with branches in Ringwood and Belfast. Dr Helen lectures extensively across the UK and internationally.
Dr Helen works tirelessly to support those with food allergies, sending up an online support group and membership, providing education for families, and working closely with allergy charities.
Helen was the previous chair for the primary care group of British Society of Allergy and is now a trustee for the Anaphylaxis UK Charity and Chair of their Clinical and Scientific panel.
Helen has appeared on The Jeremy Vine Extra show on Channel 5, ITN, BBC Radio, the Today Program, Dr Alex George’s Stompcast Podcast and has written for various newspaper articles, raising awareness about allergies and anaphylaxis.
Jo Vernazza RSCN
Jo is an experienced paediatric nurse. She has been practising for 27 years, 17 of those looking after children with allergies, in London and more recently in Southampton.
She joined the Paediatric Allergy team at University Hospitals Southampton two years ago. She manages our sublingual immunotherapy service both in Private Practice and at Southampton Children’s Hospital. She is involved in our peanut immunotherapy clinic. Jo is deepening her understating of children’s allergies by studying on the Southampton Allergy MSc programme.
Lindsay Brown
I’m a paediatric allergy nurse specialist. I worked as a member of the paediatric allergy team at Southampton NHS trust for 15 years and have recently retired.
I now use my knowledge, skill and passion for helping children and young people with allergies to work a few shifts a month with my old team at Southampton hospital as well as work here at the Spire.
I also work one Saturday a month with the team delivering private peanut immunotherapy at Southampton hospital. It’s exciting to see young people and their families’ lives changing as a result of treatment.
Hopefully this area of allergy care will expand rapidly. Having allergies can be challenging for the child or young person and their families, and I continue to find helping families navigating these challenges very rewarding.
Sam Packham
I’m an experienced clinical administrator, working in Southampton Children’s Hospital since 1990. I joined Allergy Healthcare in 2018 and currently manage the private children’s allergy clinic.
My focus is on streamlining operations, improving patient care, and ensuring the clinic runs smoothly day-to-day. I’m passionate about creating a supportive environment for both patients and staff, and I work hard to make sure every aspect of the practice meets high standards of quality and efficiency.
What our clients say
The treatment provided was first class and every single staff member was so helpful and kind to both our daughter and ourselves throughout every stage of the treatment, Our daughter has completed her treatment and is now consuming two M&Ms daily which has completely transformed her life and ours. I only hope more parents avail of this treatment that can completely change a child’s life, I cannot speak highly enough of all the team members at Allergy Healthcare.
Nigel
Communication, knowledge, experience of the team and responsiveness. 10 on all levels for our experience and we now feel our daughter has the tools to navigate her way through life when she leaves our supervision.
Sam
The care and expertise at allergy healthcare was excellent. I cannot recommend them enough. Throughout my daughters treatment they were supportive and encouraging going above and beyond to support us.
Helen
Dr Mich is fantastic! Great with my son and explained everything about his condition in detail. He is extremely knowledgeable and put us all at ease. Highly recommended.
Sophie
Mich, Helen and the team were excellent in my son’s Palforzia journey. They were competent, thorough and considered throughout. Their knowledgable confidence rubbed off on my allergic son and we felt safe and supported. We felt welcome and cared for.
Suzy
Frequently Asked Questions
Have any questions? Visit our FAQ section for answers to our most common queries.
What is the mission of the Allergy Healthcare team?
Our mission is to provide expert, compassionate, and patient-centred care for individuals and families managing allergies. We aim to empower patients with accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and the knowledge to take control of their allergies.
What makes the team unique?
Our team combines years of clinical expertise with a passion for advancing allergy care through research and innovation. Many of our staff have participated in clinical trials, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of allergy treatment and management.
How does the team approach patient care?
We take a holistic, collaborative approach, working closely with patients and families to ensure their individual needs are met. From diagnosis to treatment and follow-up, we aim to empower patients with knowledge and confidence.
Do team members have experience working with children?
Yes, our team specialises in paediatric allergy care and is skilled in creating a welcoming, child-friendly environment. We understand the unique challenges families face and tailor our approach to each child’s needs.
Can I meet the team before starting treatment?
Yes, during your initial consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the specialist and discuss your concerns. Our team is always happy to answer questions and ensure you feel comfortable with the treatment process.
How did we do?
We welcome all feedback that helps us to improve our services and provide the highest standards of care and treatment.
