Podcast 3: supporting care in a sickle cell crisis

Sickle cell is a life-long debilitating condition that predominantly affects people of black African and black African Caribbean background. This podcast series explores the work the NHS is doing to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of people with sickle cell. In episode 3 patient Stephanine George and Dr Dianne Addei, a consultant in public health medicine and NHS England’s lead for sickle-cell services discuss safer and compassionate care in a sickle cell crisis. They are joined by Carly Honey, Ward manager and Chelsea Soka, lead haemoglobinopathy nurse, from Manchester Royal Infirmary. The pair share their experience of setting up Ward 10, as well as the important benefits realised for patients and staff. This is one of seven, new sickle cell disorder emergency department bypass units that NHS England is supporting. Isobel Adams an education nurse for haemoglobinopathy across HCC West Midlands and Amanda Cope, advanced nurse practitioner in haemoglobinopathies from Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Hospital, are joined by nurse Kathy Brennan, the lead for the specialised clinical networks to discuss ACT NOW. This is an acronym and approach to improve the health outcomes and care experience of people in a sickle cell crisis. Kathy outlines the approach, while Izzy and Amanda discuss the realised benefits of the approach and discuss its implementation at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Hospital, that offers expert care to more than 90,000 children and young people from across the country per year. A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep1-restoration-and-healing-from-harm-toni-hall/ Contact us: england.sicklecellreview@nhs.net