Paediatric sickle cell and thalassaemia
What we do
We provide care and treatment for children with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. We have the longest-established clinic in the UK which is run by paediatric (children), haematology (blood), nursing and clinical psychology specialists.
We see children mainly from London and the South East but other parts of the UK as well. Most children are diagnosed when they are born and will receive follow-up in our clinic until they are 18.
As well as our weekly outpatient clinic, we run regular joint sickle cell neurology clinics for children who have had serious problems such as stroke. We also have a day unit for children who need regular blood transfusions.
Our service works closely with the paediatric surgeons and colleagues in the intensive care wards. We monitor children regularly using blood and urine tests and transcranial doppler scans, to pick up those who are at risk of stroke.
We can assess children who have learning difficulties and liaise with schools where appropriate. We can also help children with emotional problems or psychological difficulties.
Location
Third floor, Cheyne Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
Contact Details
- Children’s Outpatients: 020 3299 3560
Patient information leaflets
| Title | File Size | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Automated red cell exchange for sickle cell disease | 38 KB | |
| Children’s Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemia Clinic | 37 KB | |
| Clinical psychology for children and young people with sickle cell and thalassaemia | 32 KB | |
| How to manage your sickle cell pain in hospital (for children and young people) | 375 KB |
Conditions we treat
We treat all significant haemoglobinopathies which include homozygous sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) and the double heterozygote conditions:
- HbSC
- HbSD (Punjab)
- HbSO (Arab)
- HbS ß thalassaemia (ß+, ß0,dß and Lepore)
- HbSE
- beta thalassaemia
- haemoglobin H disease.
We do not routinely accept referrals for children who are carriers only but will advise on rare haemoglobin variants.
What is required before referring a patient
Send relevant haemoglobinopathy results, if available.
Booking a patient at King’s
GPs should refer via NHS e-referral (e-RS) wherever possible.
Other ways to refer
Routine Referrals
Other healthcare professionals can make routine referrals by sending a referral letter to:
Consultant Paediatric Haematologist
C/o Paediatric Haematology Secretary
3rd Floor, Hambleden Wing,
Child Health
King’s College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London SE5 9RS
Emergency Referrals
To make an urgent referral, use NHS e-Referral and state that the referral is urgent.
For emergency referrals, phone the Paediatric Haematology Secretary on 020 3299 3773. Outside normal working hours, contact the on-call paediatric registrar via King’s main switchboard on 020 3299 9000 if a child is likely to need admission for investigation and treatment.
Other Queries
For all other queries, phone the Paediatric Haematology Secretary on 020 3299 3773 or the on-call Paediatric Haematology Registrar via King’s main switchboard on 020 3299 9000.
Key Clinical Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Subarna Chakravorty | Consultant |
| Dr David Rees | Consultant Paediatric Haematologist |
| Miss Agnes Temba | Clinical Nurse Specialist |