Haematology service for sickle cell disease

This resource has information about when and how to contact the Haematology service team for children sickle cell disease.

When to contact the Haematology team?

Serious symptoms

You child should be seen straight away if they have:

• fever of 39 degrees Celsius or higher
• severe headache, dizziness, or stiff neck
• pain in their chest or difficulty breathing
• severe pain
• swelling in their tummy
• very pale lips or palms
• confusion or drowsiness when they would normally be awake
• change or loss of speech
• fits (convulsions)
• weakness in one or both sides of their face or body
• not able to walk
• painful erection in boys lasting more than 2 hours

This service is available to children with sickle cell disease 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mild or moderate symptoms

Other less severe symptoms include:

• pain which you have not been able to control with medicines at home
• fever less than 39 degrees Celsius
• coughing
• episodes of shortness of breath or fast breathing
• headaches that come and go

In these situations you can phone Ward 6 on 0114 271 7322, to discuss your child’s symptoms with the doctors or nurses. They may take details and ask one of the senior doctors to phone you back.

General concerns

If you have other questions or concerns in between clinic visits such as:

• questions about activities at school or nursery
• questions about immunisations
• concerns about diet or growth
• concerns about bedwetting

You can call Monday to Friday 9am till 5pm to have your clinic visit brought forward by calling our clinic clerk on 0114 271 7268.

You can also call the secretaries Monday to Friday 9am till 5pm on 0114 271 7477 or 0114 271 7366 and ask for the doctors to call you back for a discussion over the phone.