Transition from child to adult sickle cell care

This episode generates a discussion between health care professionals and patients about how to get the best out of the transition from child to adult sickle cell services. This period can last from age 12 and last a decade, depending on needs, so there's a lot to unpack.

Led by host, Kesewaa Browne, the panel exchange experiences and share insights from their clinics and lived experience, and offer tips for young patients and parents to communicate effectively with their doctors for a better transition experience.

Host : Kesewaa Browne, multiplatform Journalist for the BBC, Assistant Producer and Sport Presenter at Riverside Radio.  Kesewaa has produced a BBC documentary about sickle cell disorder and is passionate about raising the profile of the condition.

Clinical panel members :

Samah Babiker - Paediatric Haematology Consultant , Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Evelina London Children’s Hospital

Martin Besser - Consultant Haematologist, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Eliane Young – Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Patient panel members :

Michael Dove

Bolaji Farinto

The panel delve into patient experiences, and how clinicians are working on addressing  issues and creating a smooth process. They discuss the young brain and how parents can support their children as they navigate transition alongside other challenges of growing up and developing into independent adults. They look at the wider family and how they can open helpful conversations to support the transition period, tips for choosing a university while living with sickle cell, emotional wellbeing, and what else hospitals can do to make the process easier.

 We make no apology for a longer than usual podcast, because it is packed with insights and help for anyone involved in the process of transition to adult sickle cell care.

About us

We're the Sickle Cell Society, and we're the UK’s patient charity for people living with sickle cell disorder. 

We believe that people living with the condition have the right to quality care. We support and represent people, patients and families affected by sickle cell disorder to improve their overall quality of life. 

We work with health care professionals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, parliamentarians, parents, and people living with sickle cell to support and advise, raise awareness of the disorder and campaign for improvements in treatments and care. Our aim is to support those living with sickle cell, empowering them to achieve their full potential.

@SickleCellUK
https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/
Charity no. 1046631