Nurses need better training in sickle cell disease

The Royal College of Nursing has warned that there is a low level of knowledge and awareness in A&E units when it comes to sickle cell disease (SCD).

The potentially fatal condition, which affects around 15,000 people in the UK, is an inherited disease that affects red blood cells and can lead to sickle cell anaemia.

Carey Johnson, a sickle cell adult specialist nurse, has said “There are some really good specialist services in pockets around the country, but too many people have to rely on general hospitals and A&E, where there is a very poor level of awareness.

“Two things would make a huge difference to the thousands of people with sickle cell disease. First, provide more specialist services and, secondly, provide health care staff with better training about the condition.”

This comes on the back of a survey which was carried out in December 2015, which asked SCD patients whether they believed healthcare staff had a competent understanding and knowledge of the condition. Only 45% of the 229 patients surveyed said that they felt the treating nurses had a good understanding and knowledge of the disease.

The Royal College of Nursing’s chief executive and general secretary Janet Davies, said “Nurses are clearly saying that there is not enough training for healthcare staff working in general settings on sickle cell disease.

“People who are already suffering a great deal of pain need the very best, and most informed care.

“The solution to this is very simple – better training and better awareness both amongst healthcare staff and the public.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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