Haemoglobinopathy Screening Practitioners

Following recommendation from the National Screening Programme, two Haemoglobinopathy Screening Practitioners (HbSP) for the low prevalence areas of the West Midlands are in post based within the Clinical Genetics Unit. The service is covered Monday to Friday and there is always one HbSP covering when the other is off.

The West Midlands low prevalence areas are divided into North (Staffordshire - including Stoke and North Warwickshire), and South (Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and South Warwickshire).

The HbSPs are responsible for providing counselling, screening for the partners or parents of antenatal and newborn referrals who are found to be carriers of an unusual haemoglobin or thalassaemia and also co-ordinate care for couples where prenatal diagnosis is required.

HBSP’s are Janet Hunt (07974 003151) and Edel Robinson (07854 967407)

Useful link to the relevant national screening pathways https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sickle-cell-and-thalassaemia-screening-programme-overview