UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00.01 22 APRIL 2025

New Report Reveals Urgent Improvements Needed in Ambulance Care for Sickle Cell Patients in London

A new report, commissioned by the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) and conducted by the Sickle Cell Society, has highlighted the urgent need for improvements in ambulance care for people living with sickle cell disorder in London.

The report has been released alongside a letter detailing LAS’s ongoing work to improve the service, and LAS release their wide ranging action plan on 22 April 2025.

The Sickle Cell Patients’ Experiences of the London Ambulance Service report sheds light on the challenges faced by patients when accessing emergency care, particularly during sickle cell crises. With London having the highest prevalence of sickle cell in the UK, the findings underscore the importance of delivering compassionate, timely, and effective pre-hospital care.

The research involved 53 participants, including sickle cell patients, carers, and healthcare professionals, through focus groups, interviews, and written submissions.

Key Findings

• Positive Developments: Some patients reported improvements in care over the past decade, citing better communication and understanding from ambulance crews.
• Ongoing Challenges: Many still face issues, including long ambulance wait times, inconsistent treatment, inadequate pain relief, and feelings of being dismissed or disrespected.
• Hospital Transfers: Patients expressed frustration over not being taken to specialist sickle cell centres, delaying effective care.
• Trust Deficit: Due to previous negative experiences, some patients actively avoid calling an ambulance, opting for alternatives like taxis.

Recommendations for Change

The report offers 15 key recommendations aimed at improving patient experiences, including:

✅ Regular training for ambulance staff with input from sickle cell patients.
✅ Improved communication and understanding of the condition.
✅ Prioritising swift response times for sickle cell crises.
✅ Ensuring patients are taken to specialist haemoglobinopathy centres when necessary.
✅ Enhancing handover protocols between ambulance crews and emergency departments.

London Ambulance Service (LAS)  is committed to implementing the recommendations, and you can see what work has been undertaken so far in their letter to the Sickle Cell Community, below, and in their action plan.

Read the full report here : Sickle Cell Patients’ Experiences of the London Ambulance Service

Read the letter from LAS to the Sickle Cell Community here : London Ambulance Service sickle cell letter