Dear Red Cell Colleagues,
I am delighted to let you know that the next round of Haemoglobinopathy Peer review for Children and Adults is going to be starting next year.
We are looking for members of the Steering Group – a number of you have expressed an interest already which is great news and I have those details saved. We are keen for all aspects of the care of red cell disorders to be covered so really want representation from all areas medical, psychology, nursing, managerial and AHPs. Please email me with a short statement of why you are interested, where you work and your job title to e.drasar@nhs.net and karen.madgwick@nhs.net.
We are also looking for volunteers to be the leads for adult thalassaemia/rare anaemia, adult Sickle Cell and paediatric sickle cell. Mark Velangi is kindly staying on as lead for paediatric thalassaemia.
If people can’t commit to either of the above, please do consider whether you would be interested in doing visits – these can be very interesting and is great to be able to “borrow” ideas from colleagues and also to help them get what they want out of their service.
As I presented at the November UKFHD educational meeting the process is not to judge. All, including myself are aware that services are going above and beyond and then to be limited by capacity, finance and staffing. It is hoped that the peer review process will continue with work of engagement from trusts, commissioners and integrated care systems to make a difference to patient care. While it is appreciated that this is an additional time commitment it is hoped that you will help with the visits, lead or steering group. If you are interested or would like further information please email e.drasar@nhs.net and karen.madgwick@nhs.net.
The deadline for expresses of interest is 30th January 2023 with a view to holding the first steering group committee meeting in late February 2023, date to be confirmed.
Kind regards
Dr Emma Drasar
Emma trained at St Barts and the Royal London School of Medicine, University of London and qualified in 2001 and is currently working as a Haematology Consultant between UCLH and the Whittington Hospital. She was Clinical Lecturer in Sickle Cell Disease at King’s College Hospital from 2009 to 2013 and during that time was awarded her PhD based on research into markers of severity and predictors of organ dysfunction in sickle cell disease. In 2013 she was awarded the Early Stage Investigator prize from the British Society of Haematology. She is the Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centre lead for North Central and West London, East Anglia and the South West and Central England.
John James OBE has 33 years of experience within the NHS including 4 CEO roles. He was Chair of the West London Cancer network (2002-2005) and Chair of the North West London Diabetes Network (2003-2004). 
Dr Subarna Chakravorty is a Paediatric Haematologist with a special interest in non-malignant haematology and stem cell transplant for haemoglobinopathy and non-malignant diseases. She joined King’s College Hospital as consultant in July 2015. Prior to that, Subarna led the Paediatric Haemoglobinopathy service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and the Imperial Paediatric Red Cell Disorders Network for 5 years, where she was also involved in the bone marrow transplant programme for paediatric haemoglobinopathy. Since 2021, Subarna has been involved in the adult sickle cell bone marrow transplant service at King’s College Hospital.
Dr Rachel Kesse-Adu is a consultant haematologist who qualified in medicine from Imperial College School of Medicine in 2002 and completed her specialist training in haematology at Kings College Hospital in London in 2012.