Dr. Corrina McMahon:

Could I come back in regard to the North of Ireland as a question was asked about the situation there? There are very few people with sickle cell disease in the North of Ireland, fewer than 20, all of whom are paediatric cases. Because of circumstances, these are a fairly new population. The number is not growing hugely. We run an ultrasound service, a transcranal doctor, TCD, service. The hospitals in the North asked us to do their TCDs for them and we agreed to do so, but that has not happened. We have accepted transfers from the Belfast Children's Hospital because they were unsure how to manage them and we have such a big centre in comparison with theirs. We have also discussed co-operation. However, in terms of the management of sickle cell disease, the North is part of the UK programme. Therefore, it is supposed to be rolling out universal neonatal screening for sickle cell disease. This is an issue on which we have had some discussion in regard to how those in the North feel they can do that and what we can do to provide help to their laboratories.