Greater Manchester’s treatment for sickle cell disease has been showcased at the House of Commons in London (on Monday 3^rd July) as part of a Sickle Cell Sharing Event by NHS England and Improvement, celebrating the achievements of improved services across several NHS regions with partners and colleagues.

The sharing event was an opportunity for colleagues from the health and care system to highlight the work currently being delivered through national work streams, and to inform members of Parliament about specific region’s pathway transformation.

Sickle cell disease is the name for a group of inherited health conditions that affect the red blood cells. The condition causes the body to produce unusually shaped red blood cells, that can cause health problems such as blocked blood vessels. Sickle cell disease is a serious and lifelong health condition, although through transformative care and treatment, patients can help manage their health.

As part of the sharing event Dr Joseph Sharif, Consultant Haematologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Dr Jayne Peters, Consultant Haematologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and NHS Blood and Transplant, Manchester shared their experiences from a local perspective, showcasing Greater Manchester’s pathway for patients with the disease.

Dr Sharif said: “Working with Health Innovation Manchester we have been able to bridge the gap between key NHS partners to develop this service for the region.

“The MedTech Funding Mandate provided a method to secure additional funding to support this service development which ensures patients now have access to emergency automated red cell exchange across the region to support this service development which ensures patients now have access to emergency automated red cell exchange across the region.

“The sickle cell sharing event was a great opportunity to highlight the improvements we have made in the Northwest, and I hope that our local health and care system can continue to drive change for patients with sickle cell.”

Through 2021 to 2022, 443 patients were registered across 11 NHS Trusts, with 308 hospital admissions during that time, excluding patients under 18-years-old and with the length of stay being one day or less.

Health Innovation Manchester has utilised the MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) to provide equitable, high-quality care for all eligible adults with Sickle Cell Disease across Greater Manchester.

The MTFM policy is delivered by AHSNs for the Accelerated Access Collaborative, and aims to support the rapid implementation of NICE recommended medical technologies that are most clinically and cost effective.

NICE Medical Technologies Guidance MTG28 is one of the technologies supported by the NHS England MedTech Funding Mandate policy in 2022/23. It describes the Spectra Optia Apheresis System which enables the automated red cell exchange for sickle cell patients.

Spectra Optia is an alternative to manual red cell exchange, providing many benefits for patients, clinicians, and the provider. Patients presenting as emergencies can now receive the same high standard of care as routine patients, with benefits including reduced time in hospital, improving the patient experience, and more effective treatment, with a reduced risk associated with manual exchange such as strokes.

Working in partnership with the MTG28 National Working Group and Manchester Royal Infirmary, people requiring routine and emergency automated red cell exchanges can now receive it. To achieve this, Manchester Royal Infirmary have collaborated with NHS Blood and Transplant to provide emergency automated red cell exchanges across the region, providing optimal care, closer to home.