A $430,000 funding boost from the State Government has led to the expansion of allergy and immunology services at the RCH.

The two services have merged to become the Allergy and Immunology Department.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, RCH Executive members and special guests helped officially launch the new Department on Monday 8 May.

The extra funding will enable the RCH to cope more effectively with the increasing demand, as well as pursue new approaches through the merging of allergy and immunology expertise.

RCH currently treats 200 additional new patients with allergy problems each month.

Associate Professor Mimi Tang has been appointed Head of the new department.

She said the funding meant RCH could boost staff numbers and treat more patients, now and into the future.

“Our vision is to provide a facility that will improve access to world-class care, with an additional focus on cutting-edge training and research,” Associate Professor Tang said.

The new funding allows the hiring of additional staff, including a nurse practitioner, dietician, data manager, a comprehensive database utilising clinical data and creating increased research opportunities and a full-time registrar.

She said work in immunology underpinned the understanding of allergic diseases and associated problems.

“By joining the two areas, staff can leverage approaches in the clinical and research areas to produce better results together,” she said.

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has received $100,000 from the newly-established Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation, which will boost research into modifiable factors in the environment that make some children more at risk of allergies than others.

Australia has one of the highest rates of allergic disorders, in the past 30 years the number of affected children has more than doubled.