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<p>Evidence suggests that life expectancy for people with sickle cell disease is improving.
This is due to a number of factors including:</p><p>- Improved newborn screening coverage
to enable earlier diagnosis;</p><p>- Use of the National Haemoglobinopathy Registry
to monitor individuals’ health, treatment and their annual reviews;</p><p>- Access
to specific diagnostics and medication, such as hydroxyurea; and</p><p>- A Commissioning
for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) incentive has been in place for the last two years
to improve access to apheresis for individuals with sickle cell disease.</p><p>All
these factors are reflected in the service specification quality indicators which
providers are required to report against so that implementation can be monitored.</p><p>It
is anticipated that NHS England’s new model for specialised haemoglobinopathy services
will be in place by early 2020. The new model is designed to improve access to specialist
advice and care for patients, irrespective of where they live. The equality impact
assessment on the new service model indicates that it will advance the promotion of
equality and support the further reduction of health inequalities. This will be through
ensuring that patients with thalassemia and sickle cell conditions have equitable
access to high quality specialist care and support within specialised commissioned
centres irrespective of where in the country they live. These centres will promote
best practice in service delivery.</p>
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