A skills framework for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.

The standard care that people with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia experience varies widely. A specialist nurse was inspired to address this by developing a competency framework for these haemoglobin disorders, which has been accredited by the Royal College of Nursing. This article looks at the rationale for creating competencies for nurses caring for people with these conditions, and outlines the standards required to achieve optimum patient care.