The sickle cell and thalassaemia community services are an excellent resource for support, advice and advocacy. They support people living with these conditions and their families. The services are an essential part of the NHS antenatal and newborn screening programme. If you carry the gene for these conditions, they can explain how it can be passed on to your children.
Our sickle cell and thalassaemia community services provide care that looks at the whole person. They understand and take care of peoples’ physical, emotional and psychosocial needs. The centres are located in areas where sickle cell and thalassaemias are common. The service available to you depends on where you live. Please keep in mind that the size of each service may vary - some may have one person helping, while others might have a team of nurses, counsellors, and other healthcare professionals.
The North Central London Red Cell Community Service supports people living in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington. If you live outside of these areas, the team can guide you to find support. Sometimes, they may be able to support you themselves.
The team consists of:
- Nurses
- A Community Matron
- Clinical Psychologists
- A Welfare and Benefits Officer (trained by the Citizen Advice Bureau)
- Administrative staff.
Their goal is to provide a high-quality personalised care to everyone who uses their service. The team works closely with local hospitals, GPs, other primary care and community healthcare staff, and the local authority. They also work in partnership with government and patient organisations.
Contact details
NCL Red Cell Community Team, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre, Whittington Health, 17a Hornsey Street, Holloway, London N7 8GG
Tel: 020 3316 8853 or 020 3316 8854
Email: ncl.redcellteam@nhs.net (for all new referrals)
sicklethalcandi
Website: whittington.nhs.uk (search ‘NCL Red Cell Community Service’)
The services they offer include:
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Specialist nursing care
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Support for people with complex health needs
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Genetic counselling to support local antenatal and newborn screening programmes
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CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) in the community
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Blood tests for sickle cell, thalassaemia, and other red blood cell conditions
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Screening and counselling before pregnancy
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Health promotion
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School visits to teach staff about red blood cell disorders
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Training for school nurses
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Health visitor training
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Education and training programmes for midwives, health visitors, medical students and pre-registration nurses
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Community awareness for the public and professionals
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Resource centres with leaflets and information
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A drop-in service for patients to get advice and support without needing an appointment.
Referrals to the service – the team accepts:
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Self-referrals (where you can refer yourself to the service)
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Referrals from health and non-health professionals
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Routine referrals via the national screening programmes.
Haematology admin team:
Haematology clinical nurse specialists (CNSs):
Haematology advice line (office hours, children and adults):
Adult haematology advice line (out of hours):
Paediatric helpline (out of hours):
ward T11S 020 3456 7890 ext. 71103 or 71143
Apheresis:
Address:
Department of Haematology, 3rd Floor West, 250 Euston Road, London NW1 2PG
Website:
Red Cell Network:
Consultants:
- Dr Emma Drasar
- Dr Perla Eleftheriou
- Dr Andrea Leigh
- Dr Ryan Mullally
- Professor John Porter
- Dr Sara Trompeter
Matron:
Bernadette Hylton
Specialist nurses:
- Christopher Dean
- Enitan Roberts
- Alexandra Saville
Tel: 020 8961 7795
Email: info
Tel: 020 8882 0011
Email: office
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept responsibility for information provided by external organisations.
Services
Page last updated: 13 November 2024
Review due: 01 November 2026