Patients with sickle cell disease in England are to get apheresis services in an increased range of hospitals close to their homes, it has been announced.
Some 拢9 million is to be put in a programme to improve the services, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said.
The Department of Health says that at least 20 NHS trusts currently have Spectra Optia machines, which deliver apheresis to patients.
NHS England director for healthcare inequalities Professor Bola Owolabi said: 鈥淪ickle cell patients have needed new treatment options for decades and this additional funding will provide greater access to this life-changing technology which has the potential to significantly improve patients鈥� quality of life.鈥�
The Department of Health was not specific about how many centres would receive funding. NHS Blood and Transplant said it would be supporting three new centres at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, providing treatment to more than 100 patients. It already supports centres in Manchester and London.
NHSBT head of therapeutic apheresis Teresa Baines said: 鈥淣HSBT will have some form of involvement in 28% of all the new services around the country announced today. We鈥檙e recruiting new staff and we鈥檒l deliver these treatments through a mix of using our own units, satellite units, and going to the patient鈥檚 bedside. These new services will really make a difference to people鈥檚 lives, reducing travel times and reducing the risk of serious complications.鈥�
The announcement came as the NHS Race & Health Observatory marked World Sickle Cell Day by publishing a report with a series of proposals to improve equality of care for patients.
The report 鈥� 鈥淪ickle Cell: Comparative Review to Inform Policy鈥� 鈥� examined inequalities in care, funding and research compared to cystic fibrosis and haemophilia, conditions with a similar prevalence.
The report found that many patients continue to lack access to specialist care and suffer from inadequate treatment options together with negative hospital experiences.
Chief executive of Sickle Cell Society John James said: 鈥淭his landmark report makes it impossible to ignore the deep inequalities people with sickle cell face. It鈥檚 time for long overdue change.鈥�
Sources: Department of Health and Social Care/NHS Blood and Transplant/ Sickle Cell Society
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