An effective antenatal and newborn screening programme means supporting the whole journey from the offer of a screening test through to the availabilty of quality care. Read our Programme Profile which gives a picture of the Screening Programme's aims, objectives and values.
The NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia (SC&T) Screening Programme was set up in England in 2001 following Government commitment in the NHS Plan* (2000). It is theworld's first linked antenatal and newborn screening programme.
* to implement "… effective and appropriate screening programmes for women and children including a new national linked antenatal and neonatal screening programme for haemoglobinopathy and sickle cell disease by 2004…"
2. The aims of the screening programme
Support people to make informed choices during pregnancy and before conception.
Improve infant health through prompt identification of affected babies.
Provide high quality and accessible care throughout England.
Promote greater understanding and awareness of the disorders and the value of screening.
3. Care
The Programme is working with the Department of Health to developmanaged clinical care networks and support of those affected by sickle cell and thalassaemia. Managed care is not only important in relieving suffering, but also cost-effective in reducing the cost of specialist interventions. Many of the strategies planned will help families to spot warning signs and take early action. This, in turn, will reduce complications that are more expensive for the NHS in the longer term.
4. Programme team
Programme Director
Dr Allison Streetly
EA to Programme Director
Nelly Jackson
Deputy Programme Director
Programme Business Manager
Dr Elizabeth Dormandy
Dr Patricia Connell
Programme Administrator
Jessamy Willson-Pepper
Data Analyst
Matthew Charlton
Clinical Data Co-ordinator
Radoslav Latinovic
Quality improvement
Quality Improvement Lead
Dr Elizabeth Dormandy
Quality Improvement Co-ordinator
Priya Omahadat
Quality Improvement Co-ordinator
to be appointed
Communications
Communications Manager
Claire Laurent
Communications Officer
Kemi Johnson
External consultants
Community engagement and communications
Elizabeth Aram
IT
Heather Develin
Implementation
Cynthia Gill
Laboratory
Dr Yvonne Daniel
Laboratory
Joan Henthorn
Laboratory
Dr David Worthington
Finance
Roma Haigh
5. Steering Group membership
Chair
The Most Rev & Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu
Vice Chair
Dr Paul Telfer
Professional Groups
Professor Elizabeth Anionwu
National Screening Committee, Antenatal Subgroup and Emeritus Professor of Nursing, Thames Valley University
Ms Sarah Cromwell
Screening Policy Manager, Department of Health
Ms Janet Fyle
Director of Midwifery Affairs, Royal College of Midwives
Ms Joan Henthorn
Co-Director of Neonatal Screening Laboratory, Central Middlesex Hospital
Ms Jane Hibbert
Regional Antenatal Coordinators
Dr Tracey Johnston
Consultant Obstetrician Manchester
Gulsan Karbani
Genetic Counsellor and Research Fellow, Leeds
Professor Theresa Marteau
Professor of Health Psychology Institute of Psychiatry
Dr Ruth Newbury-Ecob
Consultant in Clinical Genetics, St Michaels Hospital
Dr Lola Oni OBE
STAC, The Haemoglobinopathy Association of Counsellors
Dr Anne Yardumian
Consultant Haematologist UK Forum on Haemoglobin Disorders
Voluntary Sector
Elaine Miller
United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society
Dr Phillip Nortey
Sickle Cell Society
Dr Christos Sotirelis
United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society
Anne Welsh
Sickle Cell Society
Users/ Patient Representatives
Abim Mabadeje
Patient Representative Sickle Cell
Victor Onikepe
Patient Representative Sickle Cell
Sonoo Malkani
Patient Representative Thalassaemia
Anthony Mason
Patient Representative Sickle Cell
Carol Nwosu
Patient Representative Sickle Cell
Zanib Rasul
Patient Representative Thalassaemia
Sayed Mahmud Rahman
Patient Representative Thalassaemia
Expert Advisors
Dr Claire Chapman
Expert Adviser - General Haemoglobinopathies
Dr Jane Logan
General Practitioner, London
Dr John Old
Clincal Scientist, Oxford
Observers
Dr Margaret Boyle
DH Social Services and Public Policy, Northern Ireland
Rosemary Johnson
Wales Antenatal Screening Project
Dr Vinod Devalia
Wales Antenatal Screening Project
Dr Catherine Calderwood
Scottish Executive
6. Watch Dr Allison Streetly speak about the Screening Programme
Watch a short introduction to the programme from Dr Allison Streetly, Programme Director.
