About the West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centres (HCC)
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that affects haemoglobin, the component of blood that transports oxygen. People who have this condition require specialist care throughout their lives. The disorder mainly affects black and minority ethnic populations which often have poorer health outcomes.
The prevalence of haemoglobinopathies across England varies widely, with the majority of patients concentrated around urban areas, as does the expertise to manage these conditions. London centres report that they treat 8726 patients (March 2018), not including those from neighbouring areas that are part of the London ODNs, which translates to 62% of all registered haemoglobinopathy patients.
West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centres (HCC) will oversee and support the safe, effective delivery of care for sickle cell and thalassaemia disorders in West London. The aim of the West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centres (HCC) is to promote clinical excellence to improve outcomes and patient experience for patients with haemoglobin disorders and maintain joint working between networks, specialist and local haemoglobinopathy teams to provide clear care pathways.
Evolution to a unified HCC structure in West London has been facilitated by consensus between key stakeholders in the North West London Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Network formed in 2018 (built on the North West London Haemoglobinopathy Managed Clinical Network launched in 2003 and the Imperial Paediatric Red Cell Disorders Network established in 2010) and the South West London Haemoglobinopathy Network formed in 2005. The West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centres (HCC) builds on the strengths of both networks. The formation of a HCC in West London is congruent with the NHS England’s development of the HCC lots to reorganise and improve care for Sickle Cell and Thalassemia patients,
The West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centres (HCC) operates across a number of providers, with specialist care provided by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Patients within the HCC are cared for by a number of different specialist and non-specialist centres, including;
• Hammersmith Hospital- (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust)
• St. Mary’s Hospital- (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust)
• Northwick Park Hospital- (London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust)
• Central Middlesex Hospital- (London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust)
• St George's Hospital- (St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
• Chelsea & Westminster Hospital- (Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
• Ealing Hospital- (London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust)
• West Middlesex Hospital- (Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
• Hillingdon Hospital- (The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
• Watford General Hospital- (West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust)
• Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
• Kingston Hospital- (Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
• St Helier Hospital- (Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust)
• East Surrey Hospital- (Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust)
• St. Peter's Hospital- (Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
• Royal Surrey County- Hospital (Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
• Crawley Hospital- (Sussex Community NHS Trust)
• Hemel Hempstead Hospital - (West Hertfordshire NHS Trust)
