Dr Divya

Dr Divya is a consultant in paediatrics at Allergy Asthma Foundation. Children are not small adults, and a calm, child-friendly clinic gets a better examination and a more accurate picture than a rushed one. Patients are seen for a first opinion, for a second opinion on a diagnosis already made elsewhere, and for the long-term follow-up of conditions that need regular review.

Background and training

Dr Divya completed an MBBS followed by postgraduate specialist training, and has since held posts across teaching-hospital and community settings. That mix matters: it means a plan is built not only around the ideal textbook pathway but around what is practical for the person in front of you — the medicines they can take reliably, the follow-up they can attend, and the goals that matter to them.

Continuing education is part of the job. Dr Divya keeps current with national and international guidelines, takes part in the group's clinical audit and case-review meetings, and updates standard treatment protocols as the evidence changes.

Clinical focus

Paediatric care runs from the newborn nursery to the adolescent clinic, with particular attention to growth and immunisation. The main areas of interest are:

• Growth monitoring and nutrition in infancy and early childhood
• The full national immunisation schedule, plus catch-up and travel vaccines
• Assessment of recurrent fever, cough and wheeze
• Newborn checks and early feeding support
• Developmental and behavioural concerns

Conditions seen in clinic

Referrals and self-bookings to Dr Divya's clinic most often involve:

• Fever, coughs, colds and chest infections
• Wheeze, asthma and allergy in children
• Poor weight gain or concerns about growth
• Feeding difficulties, colic, reflux and constipation
• Delayed milestones and behavioural questions
• Skin rashes and common childhood infections

Approach to care

Parents are treated as partners: the plan is explained fully, the reasons for each vaccine or test are set out, and there is always time for questions. Tests are only done when the result will change what happens next.

Shared decision-making is the default. That means explaining what a test can and cannot tell you before it is ordered, laying out the options with their benefits and trade-offs, and agreeing a plan rather than simply issuing one. Where a condition is long-term, the aim is to hand as much of the day-to-day management back to you as is safe, with a clear written plan and a route back in if things change.

Time is built into each appointment for questions, and nothing important is rushed. If English is not your first language, or if a family member usually helps you keep track of appointments and medicines, they are welcome in the consultation. Written instructions are given at the end of every visit so that the plan is not something you have to remember from a busy clinic.

Working with the wider team

Care at Allergy Asthma Foundation is delivered by a team. Dr Divya works alongside specialist nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians and pharmacists, and refers to and receives patients from other departments so that a problem crossing more than one speciality is managed jointly rather than in isolation. Results from the on-site laboratory and imaging service are usually available quickly, which keeps the number of separate visits down.

Your record is shared across every AAF centre, so if you are seen at a different branch — while travelling, or because an appointment is sooner there — the doctor you see has your full history, test results and medicine list in front of them. Continuity does not depend on always seeing the same building.

Teaching and quality

Dr Divya supervises junior doctors and contributes to the training of nursing and allied-health staff. Every clinic's outcomes feed into the department's audit cycle, and complications and unexpected results are reviewed openly so that practice keeps improving. Standard treatment protocols are updated as national and international guidelines change, so the care you receive reflects current evidence rather than long-standing habit.

What to expect at your consultation

1. A history of your child's symptoms, birth, feeding, development and immunisations.
2. Weight and height measured and plotted on a growth chart.
3. A gentle examination, with time for your child to settle.
4. Any tests explained first and kept brief.
5. A clear plan, safety-net advice on what to watch for, and a follow-up if needed.

Questions patients ask

Do I need a referral to be seen?

No. You can book a consultation with Dr Divya directly. A referral letter and copies of previous tests still help, because they give a head start on the history and avoid repeating investigations.

Will I see the same doctor at each visit?

For a long-term condition, the aim is continuity with one consultant. Occasionally an urgent slot may be with a colleague in the same team; in that case the shared record means the plan carries over without you having to re-explain it.

How soon can I be seen?

Same-week appointments are usually available. If your concern is urgent, our 24-hour helpline will triage it and arrange an earlier slot or direct you to emergency care if that is safer.

Languages and access

Consultations are available in English and Malayalam. If you need an interpreter for another language, tell us when booking and we will arrange one. The clinic is step-free and wheelchair accessible, and longer appointments can be booked for anyone who needs more time.

To book a consultation with Dr Divya, use the online booking page for the branch where they consult, or request a callback and our coordinators will find a suitable time. Please bring a list of your current medicines and any previous test results or discharge summaries.