NHS failed to tell families about sickle cell risk

THE NHS in Nottinghamshire failed to tell hundreds of parents that their babies had a higher chance of giving their own children rare blood disorders.

- By JOEL MOORE

Around 300 families were not told about their baby's sickle cell carrier status between 2004 and 2024, identified through a heel prick blood test shortly after birth.

Carrier status means that while the babies do not have blood disorders themselves, they do have a higher chance of their own children having rare conditions such as sickle cell disease.

The disease is the name of a group of genetic blood conditions that can cause severe pain, anaemia and organ damage. It is particularly common in people with an African or Caribbean family background, the NHS says.