The first specialist centre dedicated to treating Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia in the UK has celebrated its 40thanniversary.
TheBrent Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre opened in Central Middlesex Hospital (CMH) in 1979 helping people with an inherited blood condition that affects the body’s red blood cells.
The condition, which predominantly affects the African, African-Caribbean and Asian communities, was only given cursory attention before the efforts of Dr Misha Brozovic and nurse Elizabeth Anionwu who founded the centre.
Elizabeth said: “Misha really opened my eyes to what was happening and it made me angry that I had never been taught about the condition or the fact that the illness was neglected because it mainly affects marginalised black communities.”
Elizabeth, whose many accolades include being made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to nursing and being inducted in the Nursing TimesHall of Fame, was recently given a Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award for her work.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Brent Ernest Ezeajughi, Dame Elizabeth, Sir Graham Morgan, Dame Sally Davies who was a leading specialist doctor and researcher in sickle cell at CMH and TV presenter Trevor Phillips OBE
Dr Lola Oni, OBE, currently runs the centre where the specialist team look after more than 600 people.
Dr Oni said: “Many that lit the torch have now retired and those of us who are still in the field feel honoured to have climbed on the shoulder of the giants who pioneered the development of specialist Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia services not only in the UK but globally.”
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWUH) is one of the largest integrated healthcare trusts in the country, providing hospital and community services to the people of Harrow, Brent and Ealing.
Established on 1 October 2014, our team of 9,000 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of approximately one million people.
As well as delivering community services across the three London boroughs, we provide acute hospital services at:
- Northwick Park Hospital
- St Mark’s Hospital
- Ealing Hospital
- Central Middlesex Hospital
The stroke service is rated the best in the country and St Mark’s Hospital is an internationally renowned specialist centre for colorectal disease, based at Northwick Park Hospital.
The centre is a research active Trust with more than 5,000 patients taking part in clinical trials last year and we play a vital role in the education and training of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
In December 2017, the centre was officially named a ‘university teaching hospital’ in recognition of the important role it play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.
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