Changes to emergency sickle cell care

We’re changing where we see you in an emergency: sickle cell inpatient and emergency care is moving to Hammersmith Hospital from Monday 15 September.

You will still see our team at Central Middlesex Hospital for your ongoing, outpatient care.

From Monday 15 September 2025, call the Renal and haematology triage unit at Hammersmith Hospital if you need urgent or emergency care.

Call the triage team on 020 3311 7755.

The triage unit and phone line are managed by specialist haematology nurses. They are open 24 hours a day.

The triage unit is the emergency bypass unit for north west London, which means you will be seen sooner and avoid long waits in a our emergency departments.

The triage unit is not a walk-in service: please call us for an assessment first.

The triage team will:

• ask you about your symptoms
• asses your care needs
• explain where you need to be seen, based on your symptoms.

If you are experiencing a sickle cell crisis, in most cases the triage team will ask you to come to the unit.

Call 999 in an emergency. London Ambulance Service will always take you to the right place based on your care needs.

For example, if the triage team or the 999 call handler thinks you’re having a stroke, you will be seen at Northwick Park Hospital’s emergency department. Northwick Park Hospital is a specialist stroke centre, so it’s the best place for you to be.

You will usually stay on a ward at Hammersmith Hospital if you need inpatient care.

There are three specialist wards at Hammersmith Hospital. You will be looked after by doctors and nurses who have experience with sickle cell.

When you leave hospital, your care will return to your usual team at Northwick Park Hospital or Central Middlesex Hospital. Your consultant will stay the same.

If you do not need inpatient care and your symptoms can be safely managed in outpatients, we will arrange a follow-up appointment in the usual way.

If you think you need emergency care, please call the triage line for an assessment.

If you do go to Northwick Park Hospital or Ealing Hospital emergency department, we will make sure you’re seen in the right place.

Northwick Park Hospital emergency department

You will still receive emergency care at Northwick Park Hospital emergency department.

If you need inpatient care, we will:

• move you to Hammersmith Hospital when it is safe to do so
• or, if there isn’t space at Hammersmith Hospital, admit you to a haematology ward or dedicated medical ward at Northwick Park Hospital.

Ealing Hospital emergency department

Our emergency department at Ealing Hospital only cares for adults. We do not have a children’s emergency department.

Adults will still receive emergency care at Ealing Hospital emergency department.

If you need inpatient care, we will:

• move you to Hammersmith Hospital when it is safe to do so
• or, if there isn’t space at Hammersmith Hospital, admit you to a haematology ward or dedicated medical ward at Northwick Park Hospital.

Central Middlesex Hospital

We do not have an emergency department at Central Middlesex Hospital. If you live nearby and you’re worried about your symptoms, call the triage team (or dial 999 in an emergency).

If you need inpatient care while in clinic, we will:

• move you to Hammersmith Hospital when it is safe to do so
• or, if there isn’t space at Hammersmith Hospital, admit you to a haematology ward or dedicated medical ward at Northwick Park Hospital.

You have told us that you want to see improvements to the way we care for you, both in outpatients and during an emergency.

Bringing inpatients services together at Hammersmith Hospital and outpatient services at Central Middlesex Hospital will help us provide high-quality and safer care for everyone in north west London.