THE LONDON AMBULANCE PARAMEDIC PROGRAMME
in collaboration with the
PATIENTS' FORUM FOR THE LAS
Sickle Cell / Thalassaemia
The Sickle Cell Society believes that individuals with sickle cell disease have the right to quality care.
This can only be achieved if funding is made available to educate health carers and other professionals about the condition. The Society aims to provide this.
The Society does not discriminate between the types of sickle cell disorders or the ethnic groups concerned. Both sexes are equally affected, and should have equal access to support and services within a confidential and sensitive environment. We respect the views of every patient. We have a network of committed volunteers, who play an important part in running the charity, providing administrative backup, and helping with fund-raising activities.
Donations from the public, fund-raising activities and membership fees are also part of our life support. Without them, we would be unable to finance the essential welfare, research and educational projects and we would be unable to offer children a much-needed holiday. The Society benefits from the support of a wide range of individuals and organisations nationally, who together play a vital role in its success. It draws funding support from amongst others the Department of Health, Community Fund, Lloyds TSB Foundation, PPP Healthcare Medical Trust and Goldman Sachs International.
This disorder affects the red blood cells which contain a special protein called haemoglobin (Hb for short). The function of haemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.
People with Sickle Cell Anaemia have Sickle haemoglobin (HbS) which is different from the normal haemoglobin (HbA). When sickle haemoglobin gives up its oxygen to the tissues, it sticks together to form long rods inside the red blood cells making these cells rigid and sickle-shaped. Normal red blood cells can bend and flex easily.
Because of their shape, sickled red blood cells can’t squeeze through small blood vessels as easily as the almost donut-shaped normal cells. This can lead to these small blood vessels getting blocked which then stops the oxygen from getting through to where it is needed. This, in turn, can lead to severe pain and damage to organs.
Everyone has two copies of the gene for haemoglobin; one from their mother and one from their father. If one of these genes carries the instructions to make sickle haemoglobin (HbS) and the other carries the instructions to make normal haemoglobin (HbA) then the person has Sickle Cell Trait and is a carrier of the sickle haemoglobin gene. This means that this person has enough normal haemoglobin in their red blood cells to keep the cells flexible and they don’t have the symptoms of the sickle cell disorders. They do however have to be careful when doing things where there is less oxygen than normal such as scuba diving, activities at high altitude and under general anaesthetics.
If both copies of the haemoglobin gene carry instructions to make sickle haemoglobin then this will be the only type of haemoglobin they can make and sickled cells can occur. These people have Sickle Cell Anaemia and can suffer from anaemia and severe pain. These severe attacks are known as Crises. Over time Sickle Cell sufferers can experience damage to organs such as liver, kidney, lungs, heart and spleen. Death can be a result.
Another problem is that red blood cells containing sickle haemoglobin do not live as long as the normal 120 days and this results in a chronic state of anaemia. In spite of this, a person with sickle cell disorder can attend school, college and work. People with sickle cell disorder need regular medical attention particularly before and after operations, dental extraction and during pregnancy. Many hospitals arrange follow-up appointments and it is advisable to discuss with the doctors questions concerning schooling, strenuous exercise, family planning, suitable types of employment and air travel. When a person is found to have a sickle cell disorder it is important that all members of the family be tested. They will not necessarily have sickle cell disorder but may be healthy carriers of a sickle cell trait.
Sickle Cell Society, 54 Station Road. London, NW10 4UA
Tel 020 8961 7795 . Fax 020 8961 8346
http://www.sicklecellsociety.org/resources/what-is-sickle-cell-anaemia
Telephone: 0208 970 4073
Telephone: 01689 866811
Telephone: 0207 445 8035
Telephone: 0207 683 4570
Telephone: 0208 345 8022
Telephone: 0208 237 2980
Telephone: 0208 442 6230
Telephone: 0207 737 4000
Telephone: 0203 049 5993
Telephone: 0208 672 1255
Telephone: 0208 296 3371
Telephone: 0207 377 7000
Telephone: 0208 453 2050
Telephone: 0208 453 2169
Telephone: 0208 251 7229
Telephone: 0208 320 5712
Telephone: 0208 753 5318
Telephone: 0208 630 3363
Telephone: 0208 821 0800
Telephone: 0208 700 0615
Telephone: 0207 188 2710
Telephone: 0208 430 7610