About our service
Our dedicated psychology team can help you with any emotional concerns you may have due to the problems with your physical health. Some of the topics we often talk about in sessions are:
- Learning to live with a red cell disorder and to manage the impact it has on your life
- Adjusting to treatment, regular blood transfusions and periods of hospital stays
- Communicating with healthcare providers and hospital staff
- Making decisions about treatment
- Coping with pain and other complications of red cell disorders both in and out of hospital
- Managing stress
- Family, relationships and sexual problems
- Depression and low mood
- Low self-confidence and self-esteem
- Anxiety and anger problems
- Worries about the future
- Bereavement and loss
- Concentration and memory problems.
How does the service work?
You can ask any member of the red cell haematology team to refer you or your family member to the psychology team. Staff in the Macmillan Support and Information Service can also refer you:
- visit their drop-in service on the ground floor of the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- call them on 020 3447 3816, or
- email uclh.
supportandinformation @nhs.net
When we receive a referral, we will offer you an initial appointment to talk about how we can help. Depending on your needs, we may then arrange further sessions.
Appointments last about one hour.
Types of psychological support
We offer:
- Individual psychology sessions
- Couple and family work
- Staff consultation, training and support
- Liaison with other healthcare professionals and psychosocial and community services.
Contact details
Haematology admin team:
Haematology clinical nurse specialists (CNSs):
Haematology advice line (office hours, adults and children):
Adult haematology advice line (out of hours):
Paediatric helpline (out of hours):
- nurse in charge 07950 869745
- ward T11 south 020 3456 7890 ext. 71103 or 71143
Apheresis:
Address:
Haematology Department, 3rd Floor West, 250 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2PG
The Red Cell Network:
Consultants:
- Dr Emma Drasar
- Dr Andrea Leigh
- Dr Ryan Mullally
- Professor John Porter
- Dr Sara Trompeter
- Dr Perla Eleftheriou
Matron:
Bernadette Hylton
Specialist nurses:
- Christopher Dean
- Enitan Roberts
- Alexandra Saville
Further information
Sickle Cell Society
Tel: 020 8961 7795
Email: info
Website: sicklecellsociety.org
UK Thalassaemia Society:
Tel: 020 8882 0011
Email: office
Website: ukts.org
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept responsibility for information provided by external organisations.
Services
Page last updated: 22 January 2025
Review due: 01 November 2026