St Luke’s leads in children’s allergy care excellence
St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny has earned global acclaim for its outstanding paediatric allergy services. This milestone recognition ensures that children in Carlow and Kilkenny receive world-class specialist treatment close to home, advancing Ireland’s healthcare goals.
A pioneering achievement in Ireland
This accolade marks St Luke’s as the first centre in Ireland to attain the dual ANACARE and ADCARE status, a testament to the hospital’s exceptional standards in paediatric allergy care. The designation ensures that children suffering from severe allergic conditions in Carlow and Kilkenny receive specialist treatment aligned with global best practices, embodying the principles of Sláintecare — delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
GA²LEN, based in Berlin, Germany, is an elite international network connecting leading allergy and asthma centres. Its accreditation process rigorously evaluates clinical quality, patient care, service delivery, education, and research.
Voices from the frontline
Niamh Lacey, General Manager at St Luke’s General Hospital, Carlow Kilkenny, highlighted the significance: "This international accreditation honours the expertise and dedication of our Paediatric Allergy team. It demonstrates Sláintecare in action — providing top-tier care to children and families locally. We are immensely proud and committed to enhancing services in partnership with HSE Dublin and South East."
Dr Shahzad Ahmed, Senior Paediatric Registrar, emphasised the validation this brings: "It reflects our team’s commitment to delivering specialist allergy care that improves outcomes for children and supports families managing complex allergic conditions."
Laura Dalton, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Paediatric Allergy and Gastroenterology, added: "The GA²LEN accreditation follows detailed independent audits, recognising the efforts of our multidisciplinary team and the families who collaborate with us."
Advancing allergy care through innovation
This recognition places St Luke’s within a global network dedicated to excellence in allergy treatment, education, and research. Building on this, the hospital pioneered Ireland’s first Allergy Immunotherapy Clinic for children with severe peanut, tree nut, and seed allergies in 2022 via the START PEANUTS programme, delivering specialised immunotherapy locally.
For families seeking more information about paediatric allergy services at St Luke’s General Hospital, details are available through the HSE Dublin and South East website and local hospital contacts.