NHS England commissions specialised services. Specialised services support people with a range of rare and complex conditions. They often involve treatments provided to patients with rare cancers, genetic disorders or complex medical or surgical conditions. They deliver cutting-edge care and are a catalyst for innovation, supporting pioneering clinical practice in the NHS. For a quick overview of specialised services watch our animation.
Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centres (HCC) support the provision of specialist and non-specialist haemoglobinopathy services for both adults and children and provide expert opinion and management for complex patients.
HCC networks, through innovation and technology, strive to improve equity of access to healthcare. They also aim to ensure equitable access to research and newly approved therapies for individuals within their network geography. HCCs work to ensure that multi-disciplinary expertise is extended to all service users within their network footprint through expert training, clinical Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) and other innovative solutions.
The HCC provides a coordinated leadership function, supporting Specialist Haemoglobinopathy Teams (SHTs) in the delivery of clinical care. Overall, the model of care is about the effectiveness of the SHT and HCC in delivering equity irrespective of where patients live.
The clinical responsibility of a patient remains with the treating clinician. The HCC will establish shared care agreements with SHTs and Local Haemoglobinopathy Teams (LHTs) which will describe how the provision of specialist expert support, advice and oversight will be made available to local treating clinicians.
This structure will support and strengthen the network concept; improve sharing of best practice and address systems learning; and reduce unwarranted variation. The HCC will provide additional coordination, training and clinical leadership support for existing networking arrangements.
The North East and Yorkshire HCC (NE & Y HCC), is led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals working in collaboration with the regions SHTs; Leeds Teaching Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals and Sheffield Children’s Hospital. There are fourteen LHTs within the N E & Y HCC footprint.
The NE & Y supports the provision of specialist and non-specialist haemoglobinopathy services to adults and children with Sickle Cell Disorder. The geographical footprint of the NE&Y HCC is a member of the North of England Thalassaemia and Rare inherited Anaemia (RIA).
HCCs are provider organisations within clinical networks that serve agreed geographical areas. HCCs coordinate the networked provision of healthcare by Specialist Haemoglobinopathy Teams (SHTs) and non-specialist Local Haemoglobinopathy Teams (LHTs). The chart below illustrates the SHTs and LHTs in the North East and Yorkshire HCC (NE & Y HCC) and the relationship between them.
The North East and Yorkshire Haemoglobinopathy Coordination Centre
Providing expert care and support for individuals with blood disorders. Find resources, information, and support services across the North East and Yorkshire region.
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