Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why adult sufferers from sickle cell anaemia who could benefit from stem cell treatment are not able to receive such treatment under the NHS when child sufferers can; and whether they are considering changing this policy.

Decisions related to the provision of stem cell transplantation are an operational matter for NHS England. Stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease in adults are not routinely commissioned by NHS England. Whilst stem cell transplants can be effective for some carefully selected patients, stem cell transplantation can also lead to a number of complications, some of which can be severe and life threatening.

NHS England commissioning policy for stem cell transplants is kept under review in the light of the latest clinical evidence. The National Institute for Health Research is currently inviting research proposals for a multicentre randomised control trial to address the clinical and cost effectiveness of stem cell transplantation in adults with severe sickle cell disease. Evidence from this trial will inform NHS England commissioning policy related to stem cell transplants in adults with sickle cell disease.