Improving care for people affected by sickle cell disease
As a key partner for the delivery of the Medtech Funding Mandate ( MTFM ) policy , we have been instrumental in expanding access to automated red cell exchange services to improve care for people affected by sickle cell disease .
Sickle cell disease is a debilitating and painful condition that can cause infections , and reduce life expectancy , profoundly impacting the lives of those affected . Automating red blood cell exchanges can help reduce the need for top-up transfusions , effectively manage pain , and lower the risk of experiencing an episode . This condition disproportionately impacts people from West African and Afro-Caribbean communities , and patients who often live in the most socio-economically deprived areas who are at higher risk of both hospital re-admissions and in-hospital mortality .
For this particular MTFM product , we act as the national lead on behalf of the Health Innovation Network . We coordinate the work of all the 15 health innovation networks across England to increase the uptake of red cell exchange Spectra Optia Apheresis System devices in hospitals , where this service is most needed . Our role is to ensure we work closely with key stakeholders including NHS England , the MTFM team , NHS England Specialised Commissioning , NHS Blood and Transplant , Terumo , and the Sickle Cell Society to understand the data in order to prioritise the expansion
22 Transforming Lives Through Innovation