From dissertation to legislation

As a GP, Vicky sees lots of people come to her surgery in Guernsey with allergies. She wanted to provide her patients with more informed care and so enrolled on the MSc Allergy course at the University of Southampton.

Being based in the Channel Islands with patients to treat meant Vicky needed to complete the MSc from a distance. The course’s flexibility also allowed her to undertake the core modules surrounded by other topics of interest to her. 

“I especially enjoyed the Allergic Skin Disease module – it was so relevant for my clinical practice. The assessments were challenging but rewarding. As a distance student, I used Blackboard to complete the modules and assignments, but I did come to campus for an extra-curricular Language Opportunities course, which was fantastic. I was wowed by how beautiful the campus was and how amazing all the facilities were. There has been a lot of ongoing investment in the university, and it looks very impressive.”

Coming to the end of the MSc, Vicky embarked on her dissertation, and she wanted to make sure her research would impact her patients. 

She asked 112 individuals with food allergies, coeliac disease, and food intolerances about their experiences of eating out in Guernsey. Her findings revealed inadequate allergen information, lack of staff training, and limited public awareness, which create barriers to safe and enjoyable eating experiences. 

As a result, the Health & Social Care department for Guernsey has pledged to amend its laws to introduce further allergen controls. 

“The Final year dissertation is a chance to take your studies in a direction of your choice to explore a topic in depth and become an “expert”- again. I’m proud that my research has helped inform allergen legislation locally, which will have massive benefits for local people with allergies.