If your hay fever is severely affecting work, sleep, exams or daily life despite using nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops, a long-acting steroid injection is one option discussed in clinic. It is given by a private GP after a proper assessment, not on demand. Most people don’t need it — standard treatment is enough.
Most people with hay fever get good control from over-the-counter nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops. Where those aren’t enough — and the impact on life is significant — a single long-acting steroid injection is sometimes considered. We are honest about who this suits and who it doesn’t.
The assessment and (if appropriate) the injection are combined in a single visit of about 20 minutes. If we decide together that the injection isn’t the right step, you only pay the consultation fee.
The GP reviews your symptom history, what you have tried, your wider medical history, any reasons the injection might be unsafe, and your reasons for considering it.
The GP explains how the injection works, how long the effect typically lasts, common and serious side effects, and what the realistic alternatives are. You will not be steered into proceeding.
If you decide to proceed, written informed consent is taken. If you decide not to, that is a valid outcome of the visit. You may also choose to go home and think about it.
If proceeding, the injection is given by the GP into the muscle of the upper arm or buttock. You are observed briefly afterwards.
You are given written aftercare information, told what to look out for, and given a direct route back to the clinic if you have concerns. Follow-up review available if needed.
A long-acting steroid injection delivers a steady level of corticosteroid into your system for several weeks. Once given, it cannot be withdrawn or stopped if side effects occur. This is the core reason NICE does not recommend it as first-line, and the core reason we discuss it slowly with you.
Severe allergic reaction at any time? Symptoms include swelling of face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing, sudden severe rash, dizziness or collapse. Call 999. This applies to any medicine, not just this one.
The injection is one option among several. The treatments below are normally considered first.
Nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops. Most people achieve good seasonal control with these — widely available over the counter, or via your NHS GP. We don’t duplicate what is available cheaply through a pharmacy.
If your trigger isn’t obvious or symptoms aren’t responding, blood-based allergy testing can identify the specific allergens involved. Available at MHW.
For severe, year-round or treatment-resistant cases, immunotherapy addresses the underlying allergy rather than just symptoms. This is a multi-year specialist programme delivered by dedicated allergy centres. We don’t offer immunotherapy at MHW — we can confirm the diagnosis and refer to an appropriate specialist if it’s the right step.
For the full overview of our approach to hay fever — assessment, testing and stepped treatment — see our main hay fever page.
The medicine remains active for several weeks. Onset is usually within a few days. Duration and degree of symptom control vary between individuals. The GP will discuss this in your specific context.
At MHW we limit any patient to a single injection per pollen season, and we ask honestly about previous use. Repeated annual use over many years carries cumulative steroid exposure and is something the GP will want to discuss with you in detail.
NICE and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology consider that the risk/benefit balance doesn’t favour routine use, given that modern nasal sprays and antihistamines achieve good control for most patients with a much safer profile. We share that view. The injection is reserved for selected patients with severe symptoms not controlled by standard treatments.
No. The appointment is a proper clinical assessment, and the outcome depends on what the GP finds. If the GP judges the injection isn’t right for you, we’ll explain why and discuss alternatives. We are not the right clinic for patients who want a guaranteed injection on demand.
You are observed for a short period after the injection in the clinic. You are given written information about what to look out for over the following days, and a direct contact route to the clinic if you have concerns. For symptoms of a severe allergic reaction at any time, the advice is to call 999.
Yes. The injection does not affect your ability to drive.
Most insurers classify this as elective and do not cover it. Check directly with your insurer if cover matters to you. The fee is payable at the time of the visit.
Hay fever assessment and injection at MHW is overseen by Dr Haydar Bolat, GP and Clinical Director of the clinic. Dr Bolat or another GP working under his clinical governance carries out the consultation, consent and administration. All patients are seen face to face in clinic at our Whitechapel address.
Assessment and injection (if appropriate) combined in a single appointment of about 20 minutes. If you decide not to proceed, you only pay the consultation fee.