Acute Sickle Cell Unit (ASCU)
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The Acute Sickle Cell Unit (ASCU) Emergency Department Bypass Unit is a specialist unit that provides rapid support and analgesia (pain relief) for adults experiencing a sickle cell crisis.
- Base: University Hospital Lewisham
- Service Category: 1
- Client Age: 18+
- Beds: 2
- Address: University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6LH
- Reception phone number: 020 3192 6912
- Service hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
About the service
The Acute Sickle Cell Unit (ASCU) Emergency Department Bypass Unit is a specialist unit that provides rapid support and analgesia (pain relief) for adults experiencing a sickle cell crisis.
Our unit is here to help sickle cell patients bypass long waits for specialist treatment in Emergency Departments (ED). Our team is made up of experts specialising in treating sickle cell, who can provide advice, support and treatment.
Out of hours: The hospital emergency teams can provide an advice service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which can be reach via switchboard at both hospital sites.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital switchboard: 020 8836 6000
University Hospital Lewisham switchboard: 020 8333 3000
How to get a referral
You can be referred to us by the unit by Emergency Departments (ED), the London Ambulance Service.
You can also self-refer by using the telephone number above. A member of our expert team will speak with you to assess your condition, provide advice and recommend admission, if necessary.
How we can help
The ASCU is an integral part of sickle cell services at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, which serves the fifth largest sickle cell population in the country. It complements our extensive inpatient, outpatient, specialist psychology and red cell apheresis services.
We are part of the South-East London Sickle Cell Improvement Programme; a two-year pilot aimed at improving services for people in south-east London.
We are also taking part in the ongoing REVAL trial at Manchester University which is researching new models of specialist care for people living with sickle cell at several pilot sites across London and further afield in England.
To find out more about specialist sickle cell services in the area, visit the South East London Integrated Care System website.
Learn more about the South East London Sickle Cell Improvement Programme
About our team
The ASCU team is led by Dr Tullie Yeghen, Lead Haemoglobinopathy Consultant with other 30 years’ experience in treating sickle cell disease and other blood disorders, and Michael Barns, Lead Advanced Clinical Practitioner, with over 10 years’ experience in emergency and pre-hospital medicine, including sickle cell disease.
Our team includes advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs), highly trained healthcare professionals who are educated to masters level (MSc).