Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the life expectancy of patients with sickle cell disease since 2000; and what steps he is taking to increase life expectancy for people suffering from that disease.

Evidence suggests that life expectancy for people with sickle cell disease is improving. This is due to a number of factors including;

- Improved new born screening coverage to enable earlier diagnosis;

- Use of the National Haemoglobinopathy Registry to monitor individuals’ health, treatment and their annual reviews;

- Access to specific diagnostics and medication, such as hydroxyurea; and

- A Commissioning for Quality and Innovation incentive has been in place for the last two years to improve access to apheresis for individuals with sickle cell disease.

These factors are reflected in NHS England’s service specification quality indicators which providers are required to report against so that implementation can be monitored.