Sickle Cell Awareness Month: ACT Now for our patients in a crisis
Through a collaborative project with NHS England, Croydon Health Services has introduced the 'ACT NOW' approach, aimed at equipping Emergency and Urgent Care departments with the tools to quickly identify and effectively treat patients in sickle cell crisis.
As part of Sickle Cell Awareness Month, we thought it important to promote this new approach so we can raise awareness and ensure our patients living with sickle cell have access to the care they need.
The NHS has been actively listening to both patients and clinicians, taking on valuable insights highlighted in the ‘ No One’s Listening report ‘, after an inquiry had uncovered that further awareness of sickle cell was vital in order to continue to provide essential care to patients.
Consequentially, in May earlier this year we rolled out 'ACT NOW', a new approach to improve patient experience for adults and children experiencing a sickle cell crisis and during their most vulnerable moments.
- A Analgesia
- C Compassion
- T Tests and triggers
- N Notify
- O Oxygen
- W Watch
The acronym has been developed collaboratively with clinical experts and patients and is being piloted across 16 other sites in four regions across England, supporting a rapid and effective response to a sickle cell crisis.
We are continually working with NHS England to ensure our sickle cell patients can receive the best care possible at the right time.
Key learning materials
To help colleagues gauge a better understanding of sickle cell, learning resources for clinical colleagues are available to view and access below.
- Bitesize learning on sickle cell disorder from The Red Cell Network (NCL and East Anglia HCC)
- Sickle cell disease: A tool for acute admissions from King’s Health Partners (KHP)
- The ACT NOW acronym is included in the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s best practice guidance.