Lucy Common (Riddington) MSc Allergy,  2010

Allergy and Immunology Nurse Specialist at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Hi, I'm Lucy Common and I studied MSc Allergy within Medicine at the University of Southampton.

I'm really pleased I chose Southampton and I was given the support and encouragement to carry out the whole MSc. I have been able use my new knowledge and skills to improve patient care and experience in allergy clinics in my workplace.

I initially chose a module on the MSc Allergy course at Southampton with a view to just completing a Post-graduate certificate. There were very few allergy courses available in the UK and being relatively new to the speciality, I was keen to gain more specific knowledge in allergy.  I thoroughly enjoyed the first module I did (mechanisms and management of allergic disease), and even though it was hard work, we received plenty of support and encouragement. I was keen to do another module, then another, and another... before I knew it I was a dissertation away from completing my MSc. I'm really pleased I chose Southampton and I was given the support and encouragement to carry out the whole MSc. I have been able use my new knowledge and skills to improve patient care and experience in allergy clinics in my workplace. From basics such as skin prick testing to having the confidence to carry out research and audit to advance our service and allergy as a speciality.