Sickle cell crisis: step-by-step advice on spotting the signs and how to respond

Lack of knowledge of the blood disorder is common among healthcare professionals. Find out how to help your patients

• Without appropriate treatment, a sickle cell crisis can lead to organ damage or death
• C ommon problems for people in sickle cell crisis include delays in receiving pain relief, insufficient or excessive doses, inappropriate analgesia and stigmatising the patient as drug seeking
• Expert nurse advice on establishing trust, plus advice on signs of a sickle cell episode

Sickle cell disease, a group of disorders that alter the haemoglobin in red blood cells, affects an estimated 15,000 people in the UK, according to the Sickle Cell Society.