Nurses on the Frontline: A History of Sickle Cell
02 Sep 2026, 18:00 - 19:30
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Join this online talk exploring the pioneering nurses who initiated and developed specialist services to treat sickle cell and thalassaemia.
In the 1950s and 1960s, sickle cell was documented as a 'rare tropical disease’ that was not seen in western countries. But due to migration from British Colonies to the UK, an increasing number of children were born with sickle cell disease. Children and adults' desperate request for relief of the debilitating pain associated with the condition were often ignored, because healthcare professionals did not believe they were in pain or understand the serious nature of the disease. As a result, their care was often poorly managed.
In this online talk, Jenny Bangham and Lola Oni discuss the pioneering nurses who initiated and developed specialist services delivered by sickle cell and thalassaemia counsellors from the late 1970s.
Image: You & I (I & II) – Larry Amponsah, Wellcome Collection
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Page last updated - 04/02/2026
