Advice to clinicians on risk assessment for severe COVID-19 in patients with haemoglobinopathies and inherited rare anaemias

This information has been produced following virtual meetings with representatives from the Haemoglobinopathy Co-ordinating Centres (HCCs) for Haemoglobin Disorders, the Clinical Reference Group for Haemoglobin Disorders, the National Haemoglobinopathy Panel, NHS Screening Committee and NHSBT as well as national experts on Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassaemia and Rare Anaemias and patient groups.

This updates previous advice from this group and should be read in conjunction with government guidance advising that shielding should be paused from 1st August 2020. This document offers advice to Haemoglobinopathy practitioners if the situation arises that shielding is re-introduced. It also provides support for clinicians in having conversations about COVID-19 risk with patients. This document covers

1. Background information
2. Guidance for discussions with children
3. Planned changes in risk assessment for adults
4. Guidance for discussion with adults
5. Advice to patients on employment/education
6. Additional patient information