SICKLE CELL AND THALASSAEMIA SCREENING AND CARE

That this House recognises the achievements of the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme, and the charities that work with them, in securing universal screening for all newborns in England; supports their continuing efforts to build awareness of these disorders as they work towards offering early antenatal screening to all eligible women by Autumn 2007; notes with concern that effective screening needs to be complemented by adequate and co-ordinated follow-up care and services to maximise the value of the screening process; and urges the Government to prioritise and establish a high quality managed clinical network across England which will ensure effective and efficient high quality care for all those children identified as having sickle cell or thalassaemia major.