Specialists who shaped the field

Professor George du Toit is one of the world’s leading experts in paediatric food allergy. He is Professor of Paediatric Allergy at the Evelina London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College London.

He helped establish specialist paediatric clinics focused on food allergy (prevention and treatment), chronic urticaria, and drug allergy.

Prof du Toit is Director of the Allergy Centre of Excellence—one of the world’s largest providers of oral immunotherapy (OIT). He remains highly active in multiple clinical research studies, key roles in the following:

LEAP Studies (peanut allergy prevention)

EAT-On Studies (prevention of six major food allergens)

Palforzia & DBV EPITOPE trials (OIT and patch immunotherapy)

Basophil Activation Test studies (diagnosing food allergy through novel assays)

He serves as scientific advisor and safety monitor for numerous trials, is an Executive Member of the Allergy Academy at King’s College London, and is Past Chair of the EAACI Paediatric Section.

When away from work, he can be found somewhere near sports, gardening, or spoiling his two ‘working’ dogs.

Dr Ru-Xin Foong is a Consultant in Paediatric Allergy at Evelina Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

She holds an MBBS and BSc (Hons) in Psychology from King’s College London, and a PhD focused on the resolution of food allergy.

Dr Foong’s clinical and research interests span food allergy prevention, treatment and diagnostics. She is also an expert in SLIT for the treatment of aeroallergies.

Known for her warm, evidence-based approach, she is a long-standing and trusted member of the London Allergy Consultants team.

When away from work, she is an excellent potter.

Specialist Doctor in Paediatric Allergy

Dr Andreina Marques Mejias trained in Allergy at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid and holds a PhD from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Now practising in the Paediatric Allergy Department at Evelina Children’s Hospital, she is also a co-investigator on research studies in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of paediatric food allergy.

She speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese .

Specialist Doctor in Paediatric Allergy

Dr Irene Bartha completed her Allergy training at University Hospital La Princesa and University Hospital Niño Jesús in Madrid. Her PhD explored the relationship between allergy, pregnancy, and environmental factors.

She now works in Paediatric Allergy at Evelina Children’s Hospital and King’s College London, with a clinical focus on food allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy.

She is fluent in Spanish and English.

Hi, I’m Alia Boardman, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Paediatric Allergy. I began my nursing career in 2004 at St George’s Hospital and later joined the allergy service at St Thomas’ Hospital in 2009. I hold a BSc in Child Health and an MSc in Allergy from the University of Southampton. As part of my MSc, I led a project that helped provide adrenaline auto-injector kits to all primary and secondary schools in Wandsworth and Merton. I’ve also co-authored several allergy-related publications and have worked with Professor George Du Toit since 2010 at London Allergy Consultants.

My role includes allergy testing, food and drug challenges, administering vaccines and Omalizumab, and delivering both sublingual and subcutaneous immunotherapy. I love working with families—meeting new patients and reconnecting with familiar faces. My focus is always on providing clear, supportive care that empowers children and their families to manage allergies confidently.

Hi, I’m Dr Karen Murphy, a Chartered Clinical Psychologist focused on supporting people living with allergies through therapy and education. I am the lead Psychologist at the Allergy Centre of Excellence. I work closely with the London Allergy Consultants practice, focusing on common psychological issues that arise when patients and their families deal with allergic disease.

With over 15 years of NHS experience, I’ve worked with both physical and emotional health challenges. I also host Serene – The Allergy Podcast , creating a space to explore the mental health side of allergy care.

I help individuals and families feel more confident with hospital visits, travel, and dining out. You can find more at drkarenmurphy.co.uk or follow me @drkarenmurphy on Instagram.

Hi, I’m Rosan Meyer. I’m a paediatric dietitian specialising in food allergies and related issues like growth concerns, feeding challenges (including ARFID) , and nutritional deficiencies. I also assist many families in introducing milk and proteins into their child's diet, working closely with London Allergy Consultants to ensure a safe and effective journey.

Why I’m so passionate about this field: I’ve been working in allergy for over 25 years, and I genuinely believe dietary support can have a significant impact on a child’s health and a family’s quality of life. I also live with a severe shellfish allergy myself—so I understand both professionally and personally what these families are going through.

Fun fact: I’m a yoga teacher and often use breathing and movement techniques to help families manage food allergy-related anxiety. I also love cooking and growing food—a passion that started during my childhood on a South African farm. You can find my recipes on Instagram @rosanpaediatricdietitian.

Hi, I’m Paula Hallam, a Registered Dietitian and the founder of Tiny Tots Nutrition. I’ve worked in both NHS and private healthcare settings for over 20 years, with specialist training in paediatric nutrition and dietetics in both the UK and South Africa.

I earned my BSc in Biochemistry and a Postgraduate Honours degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Cape Town. Since moving to the UK in 1999, I’ve held roles at some of the world’s top children’s hospitals, including Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Evelina Children’s Hospital in London.

I’ve also completed advanced Masters-level training in food allergy, metabolic disorders, and common childhood nutrition concerns, along with the SOS Approach to Feeding course to support children with picky eating or feeding difficulties. I live in the UK with my husband and two children and am passionate about helping families feel confident and empowered when it comes to their child’s nutrition.

I’m a certified infant and child sleep consultant and the founder of Dreaming Angels , where I support families across the UK and beyond to gently improve their little one’s sleep through responsive, evidence-based guidance.

I regularly refer families to Professor Du Toit because, through both my professional experience and my own personal journey as a parent, I’ve seen how often allergies are a hidden cause of broken sleep, unsettled behaviour, and persistent feeding difficulties.

My own son struggled with severe eczema for years, and although we sought support from various specialists, we were still searching for clarity. Working with Professor Du Toit was a turning point — his thorough and compassionate approach helped us finally uncover and manage the full picture of my son’s allergies. The difference has been life-changing, and I’m deeply grateful. I’m proud to collaborate with him and continue to see the positive impact this partnership has on the families I support.

Hi, my name is Louise. The role I play is to talk to you about all things SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) and support you through your child’s SLIT journey from start to finish.

Why I love this job so much: I absolutely love working in allergy and seeing the transformation that happens when a child gets the proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s not just life-changing for them, but for the whole family. When a parent tells me what a relief it’s been and how much their child’s life has improved, it genuinely makes me so happy.

Interesting fact: I have four adult children and two working cocker spaniels—who, just to be clear, have never worked a day in their lives! When I mention my “boys” running wild in the garden, I usually have to clarify that I mean the four-legged ones.

Hi, I’m Marie. With more than 20 years in London’s private healthcare sector, I specialise in managing paediatric medical practices, focusing on allergy and immunotherapy. I am also the Senior Manager at the new Allergy Centre of Excellence.

I’ve had the pleasure of building and growing respected consultant practices while ensuring every patient receives high-quality, compassionate care. For the past five years, I’ve supported the launch of peanut desensitisation programmes.

As a mother of two adult children, I deeply understand the parent perspective, and I bring that empathy into every part of the patient journey.

Hello, my name is Hayley, and I have been a member of our patient-facing team for a long time. My role is to support you throughout your journey with our service. I understand that these journeys can often feel like marathons rather than sprints, and I genuinely value getting to know our patients and their families.

I am committed to ensuring that the clinic operates smoothly, striving to provide a service that is both compassionate and efficient. Whether I am coordinating patient care or resolving a last-minute scheduling issue, I aim to bring warmth, professionalism, and a sense of humour to every interaction.

We’re thrilled to welcome Zhane to the London Allergy Consultants team. With her background in healthcare and her calm, capable presence, she’s a fantastic addition to our busy and growing practice. Zhane is already making a difference behind the scenes, and we look forward to the continued support and care she’ll provide to our patients and families.

Hi, my name is Michelle, and I’m one of Professor Du Toit’s two secretaries. I’ve worked as a medical secretary for over 23 years, starting in ENT before joining Professor Du Toit’s practice, where I’ve been for the past 8 years.

My role is varied and fast-paced—helping families arrange appointments, food challenges, and ongoing allergy care. It’s busy and often demanding, but incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that helps families through their allergy journeys.

To unwind, I love doing Pilates and walking my dogs. And a fun fact? In the early ’90s, I appeared as a dancing nun in a Technotronic music video on MTV!