About Us
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Aleks Kinay Aleks developed latex allergy whilst working as a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company, where she came into contact with airborne latex from the use of powdered latex gloves by healthcare workers, and was diagnosed in 1999. Aleks became involved with the lobbying activities of the Group resulting in joint working with Government agencies, professional organizations, industry and others to combat unnecessary latex exposure thus improving the safety of patients and employees. She was elected as Chair in 2001. Aleks was part of the team that produced the Royal College of Physicians and NHS Plus national guideline on occupational aspects of management of latex allergy and is involved in developing the strategies of the Group. She continues to work in the pharmaceutical industry having had her allergy successfully accommodated at work. |
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Lesley Fudge Lesley is a Registered Nurse with a specialist background in operating theatres. She has been the Vice Chair of LASG since 2002 and also edits the Bouncing Back newsletter for members. Lesley retired from the NHS in 2003 after nearly 40 years in healthcare and now runs her own healthcare consultancy as well as being a Trustee of a charity providing education to theatre nurses across Africa where she works two or three times a year. Lesley first became interested in Latex Allergy when she was the operating theatre senior nurse at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol and based her Master’s dissertation (2000) on the labeling of products where they might contain ingredients that cause harm. |
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Ann Clarke Ann was a dentist for twenty four years, until diagnosed with latex allergy in 1996 (although probably reacting to latex for about ten years before the diagnosis). Increasingly strong reactions to airborne latex led to early retirement from clinical work, but she continued to work in postgraduate dental education for a number of years. Ann was part of the team that produced ‘Guidance for the Management of Natural Rubber Latex Allergy in Dental Patients and Dental Healthcare Workers’ published by the Faculty of General Dental Practice, The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Her research into the experiences of latex allergic patients undergoing dental treatment, and dentists’ knowledge of latex allergy, was published in the British Dental Journal. She is trustee of her local hospice, and a magistrate. |
Dr Graham Lowe
Director
Graham has been a Consultant Dermatologist at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee since 1990. His main clinical interests are in the fields of Contact Dermatitis and training of Healthcare Professionals.
Graham has chaired the Latex Allergy Support Group (LASG)’s Medical Advisory Panel since its inception in 2003. A wide range of clinical and scientific experts from the UK, USA and Europe sit on the Panel, and are of great help in answering the many enquiries and requests for help that are directed to LASG from individuals, healthcare establishments, national bodies and the wider community.
Graham does not have latex allergy himself, but has plenty of other ailments that have helped to make him become a strong patient advocate.
Fay Walker
Membership Secretary
I and my husband Ray were 2 of the founder members of the Latex Allergy Support Group back in 1996. I have been the Membership Secretary since its inauguration in December of that year.
I was a Psychiatric Nurse for many years and was undergoing many major operations during that time. During one of the operations in 1994, I went into Anaphylactic Shock. I now have type I and type IV latex allergy and am highly allergic. I do not wish others to suffer as I have done over the years so I have made it my priority through the Latex Allergy Support Group (LASG) to assist others to my utmost ability.