Sickle Cell Awareness Month 2025
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and we’ll be marking the occasion by doing our bit to raise awareness of the condition and services in the area that can support you, your family and your friends.
Our Trust serves the fifth largest sickle cell population in the UK, and we’re working to improve health outcomes for people in our local communities who are living with the condition with innovative care models like our Acute Sickle Cell Unit.
Sickle cell disease is a serious and lifelong health condition, and one of the most common genetic blood conditions in the UK, affecting around 17,500 people. Those living with the condition can suffer from severe pain and anaemia, requiring immediate treatment and blood transfusions.
Although anyone can be born with sickle cell, it’s most common amongst people of Black Caribbean or Black African heritage. Many more people carry the sickle cell gene ‘trait’ but do not have the condition and may be at risk of having a child with sickle cell disorder. A free NHS blood test can tell if they have the trait or not.
Why is sickle cell a serious condition?
People with sickle cell disorder produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can block blood vessels and restrict oxygen supply.
This can trigger a ‘sickle cell crisis’, causing severe pain and requiring hospital admission. Patients should be given effective pain relief and treatment to prevent organ failure, which can be fatal.
Sickle cell patients often need blood transfusions with blood that is closely matched to their own, which makes blood donation, especially from those of Black Caribbean or Black African heritage an important tool in treating people.
Symptoms of sickle cell
A sickle cell crisis can be fatal. Acting fast saves lives. If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, call 999 as they could be signs of a sickle cell crisis or complication:
- Pain
- Severe headache
- Unexplained numbness
- Signs of infection including fever/cold sweats
- Difficulty walking or talking
- Confusion
- One-sided paralysis or weakness in the face, arms or legs
- Breathlessness, chest pain or low oxygen levels
- Sudden vision changes
Stay tuned for more updates throughout the month, including the launch of our sickle cell video. Check out the links below to learn more about sickle cell and improvements to healthcare access for people living with the condition.
More information