October is Black History Month, in which we traditionally recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution of black people to the culture and innovation of Great Britain and Ireland.
In our profession, we benefit from a diverse workforce. Black people make up 4.4% of the working-age population in the UK and yet account for 7.4% of positions in the NHS. This contribution is invaluable, particularly in supporting the widening demographic of NHS users.
Despite this, a recent General Medical Council report shows inequality is deeply entrenched in medicine. It’s extraordinary for a caring profession to be so discriminatory and so backwards! It’s time to reset this narrative. As eloquently expressed by Dr Rahma Warsame in her personal account published in The Hematologist, “Diversity lies not in quotas and tokenism, but rather in support systems, transparency, and community”.
Medical research and clinical practice have historically taken an Anglocentric view, but we must shift the dial to better support our increasingly diverse population. The World Sickle Cell Day theme for 2024, ‘Hope Through Progress’, underscores the importance of further advancement in this and other fields.
I have always been an advocate for preventative medicine, and in considering minority groups, amongst whom many haematological conditions are more common, I would like to see a big ‘HIT’ on the prevention of ill health. And by ‘HIT’, I refer to three very low-cost but potentially life-saving drugs:
- Hydroxycarbamide to prevent pain and hospitalisation in those affected by sickle cell disease,
- Iron to build strength and resilience and reduce haemorrhage at childbirth, and
- Tranexamic acid to reduce bleeding at surgery and delivery.
These cost-effective drugs should be considered for and offered to all those who need them. ‘HIT’ accessibility is paramount in resource-poor countries where treatment of these disorders can become unaffordable.
On that note, there are exciting opportunities to get involved in national policy-making for these conditions:
The Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is recruiting for a National Clinical Lead to focus on the improvement of sickle cell disease and thalassaemia services across England. The role will involve working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders, including the BSH, Royal College of Physicians, Sickle Cell Society and the NHSE Haemoglobinopathies CRG. The deadline for applications is the last minute of 2024.
We’re also looking for a second BSH representative to work with the National Blood Transfusion Committee, ideally a senior trainee or junior consultant with experience in hospital transfusion practice. Please send expressions of interest to [email protected].
We know from our workforce analysis that opportunities for personal development, external roles and research are perceived to be lacking, and as a result, we aim to open more doors for our members.
Thank you to those who joined our Workforce project webinar on 10 October. If you were unable to attend, it is still available to view. You can also sign up to our Workforce mailing list for the latest updates about our advocacy and workforce progress.
Key issues highlighted by the Workforce project, which are specific to haematology, include unseen work which is not recorded in current NHS workforce models, e.g., liaison haematology, transfusion practice and aspects of laboratory work.
To shine a light on these, the BSH will mark National Pathology Week with a series of webinars addressing topics at the interface of laboratory and clinical practice, delivered by clinicians and clinical scientists. They will be hosted by the limbic and run from 17:00 to 18:00 daily from 4 to 8 November.
Two of our scientists will also participate in the Royal College of Pathologists’ ‘Pathology Myths and Misconceptions’ online event, dispelling the myth that haematologists only count blood cells!
Other opportunities include the NHS Fellowships in Clinical Artificial Intelligence. Applications for cohort four of haematology-themed proposals close on 8 November 2024. There is more information on our website.
And taking a wider view, I encourage you all to participate in the Government’s public consultation to help inform the new ten-year plan for the NHS. Members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts, are invited to share their experiences, views and ideas. Publication is planned for Spring 2025.
We need to lift the voices of the haematology community to ensure an appreciation of the vital roles within medical haematology and haemato-oncology. We don’t just count blood cells.