To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has visited any sickle cell disorder support groups in the last 12 months. (302905)

Ministers have not visited any sickle cell disorder support groups in the last 12 months.

However I met with representatives from the Wolverhampton Sickle Cell Care and Social Activity Centre on 29 October 2008 and the UK Thalassaemia Society on 21 April 2009 to discuss respectively, care of sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia patients. I also provided a statement of support in July 2009 for the All Party Parliamentary Group publication ‘Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemia: A Health Check to raise awareness of these conditions’.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the standard of services for those diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia. (302909)

The planning, delivery and improvements in services for people diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia are the responsibility of local commissioners, providers and their relevant stakeholders.

We are working with a range of commissioners and stakeholders to improve the integration of health and social care services for people with sickle cell anaemia and to ensure that they receive the information and support that they need to manage their condition effectively.