With one in four people in the United Kingdom likely to suffer from an allergy, locals are invited to attend a free health seminar at Heartlands Hospital to hear about allergy treatments.

Taking place on Thursday 21 April from 5pm in the lead up to Allergy Awareness Week, Dr Richard Baretto, consultant immunologist, will speak about ways of treating allergic reactions at the West Midlands Allergy Centre and offer locals the chance to ask any questions.

Dr Baretto said: “An allergy is everything from sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and ears, severe wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Common allergens are pollen from grasses and trees and foods such as nuts, fish and eggs.

“The West Midlands Allergy Centre, part of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, serves a wider population of over 2.4 million people and provides a service for the diagnosis and management of allergic conditions.”

If you would like to attend the seminar, please contact Sandra White, membership and community engagement manager, on 0121 424 1218 or email: membership@heartofengland.nhs.uk.

The Trust – which covers Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital as well as some community based services – runs monthly health seminars to help raise awareness of a range of health conditions, as well as providing information about the treatment and support that is available.