Statement in response to hospital failings which led to a woman’s death from sickle cell

Dr Carl Reynolds, Sickle Cell Medical Advisor, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said:

“It is a tragedy that a young woman has died in circumstances where failures in care have been clearly identified. The themes described – delays in treatment, failure to respond to deterioration, and patients not being listened to – are not new and have been repeatedly highlighted in relation to sickle cell care.

“While local changes are welcome, the absence of a Prevention of Future Deaths report raises concerns about whether learning will be consistently shared and acted upon across the NHS. Preventable sickle cell deaths continue to occur, suggesting that current accountability and assurance processes remain insufficient.

“There is an urgent need for stronger system-wide oversight, cultural change, and consistent implementation of standards to ensure safe, equitable care for people living with sickle cell disorder.”