The UCLH red cell haematology department now belongs to the The Red Cell Network (TRCN), led by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, TRCN is responsible as the Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centre (HCC) to support the provision of specialist and non-specialist haemoglobinopathy services to adults and children with sickle cell disease, thalassaemia and rare inherited anaemia. 

TRCN works in collaboration with The Whittington Health NHS Trust and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust to cover the sickle cell networks across North Central London and East Anglia whilst also working in collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to cover the thalassaemia networks across West London.

The Red Cell Network’s service ethos is to provide a high quality service, in line with the requirements laid out by the Specialist Commissioning Board, offering a caring, adaptable and patient centred approach to management and long-term care of patients and to build on and spread best practice throughout the Network.

The joint red cell unit at UCLH is a leading national unit for investigating anaemias (both transfusion dependent and transfusion independent).

The red cell unit has the largest number of patients with thalassaemia in the UK and a large population of patients with sickle cell disease. The unit is a tertiary referral centre for iron overload disorders, e.g. genetic haemochromatosis as well as for other red cell disorders.

Patients are referred locally, nationally and internationally for investigation, treatment and advice about management. We work closely with other expert teams at UCLH including cardiology, neurology, psychology, hepatology, endocrinology and the pain team. We have access to diagnostic testing that is uniquely available at UCLH. Such diagnostic testing includes laboratory based methods as well as MRI imaging techniques for iron quantitation that are not available in district general hospitals.

The paediatric haematology clinic is able to review non-malignant haematology in pre-teens as well as iron or red cell disorders in a child of any age.

Conditions treated

  • Haemoglobinopathies including sickle cell and thalassaemia
  • Iron overload disorders including haemochromatosis
  • Anaemias
  • Enzymopathies e.g. pyruvate kinase deficiency
  • Membrane disorders e.g. hereditary spherocytosis
  • Secondary polycythaemia

Other contact information

General enquiries

Telephone: 0203 447 9456 (adults) / 020 3447 5239 (children)
Fax: 020 3447 9046 (children)

GP enquiries

Telephone: 0203 447 9456 (adults) / 020 3447 5239 (children)
Fax: 020 3447 9046 (children)
Email: uclh.redcelladminteam@nhs.net (adults) / pat.isaacs1@nhs.net (children)

Other information

If you are a patient please call the Patient Telephone Line for all queries to your team: 0203 447 7359. Please note the line is open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

Outside of the office hours (listed above) and for medical advice only, patients may call the haematology ward: 07852 220 900.

Please note this line is for patients only –medical professionals should call the general enquiries line for any patient-related queries.

Address

Joint Red Cell Unit
University College Hospital
Haematology department
Cancer Services
250 Euston Road
London, NW1 2PG

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
Outpatient Services
Huntley Street
London, WC1E 6AG

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
Day Care Services
Huntley Street
London, WC1E 6AG 
 

Other referral information

Referral address

Joint Red Cell Unit
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Haematology Department, 1st Floor Central
Cancer Services
250 Euston Road
London NW1 2PG