Our Living Well with Sickle Cell service aims to help those living with this condition and their carers or loved ones to choose well, stay well and live well in the community.

We meet regularly, both face-to-face and online to provide up-to-date information on managing the condition, wellbeing and offer a space for peer support.

Join us at one of our upcoming events to connect with the Sickle Cell Warrior community and be involved in what we are doing to support you.

 

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

 

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a long-term health condition that affects the red blood cells. People with sickle cell disorder are born with the condition. It is inherited from both parents who both passed on the gene for sickle cell.

It predominantly affects people with an African or Caribbean family background.

People with SCD produce red blood cells that are rigid, sticky and unusually shaped, similar to that of a crescent moon. This can cause complications such as slowed or blocked blood flow in blood vessels.

 

The main symptoms are:

 

Painful episodes (crises): They happen when blood vessels, in any part of the body, become blocked. The pain can be severe and last for several days or weeks.

Infections - Sickle cell disease (SCD) often causes spleen damage and other immune system problems. This makes people with SCD more likely to experience complications from infections.

Anaemia – As sickled cells are sticky and hard and there are less red blood cells available in the body, the result is anaemia. This can cause dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath. Some living with the condition do require regular blood transfusions.

Course Recordings - Norma Watson Living Well with Sickle Cell

About Norma Watson Click Here

Sickle Cell in the Media

https://stedmood.ru/news/uk-england-london-52753482

https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1441291985998974976

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/resource/bbc-breakfast-gaps-in-sickle-cell-care-and-awareness/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63pgiclvChc

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsbeat-58599462

https://news.sky.com/story/richard-okorogheye-new-images-released-of-missing-student-last-seen-on-bus-in-west-london-1226120 3

Information for Health Care Professionals

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/

https://www.sctsp.org.uk/home

https://www.england.nhs.uk/atlas_case_study/group-clinics-for-parents-of-children-with-sickle-cell-anaemia/

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Im-In-Crisis-A-SCTAPPG-Report.pdf

https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/28116/1/Aljuburi-G-2015-PhD-Thesis.pdf

https://www.unison.org.uk/motions/2017/black-members/why-sickle-cell-matters/