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| Cost of living crisis: Sickle cell families staying in bed for warmth | Cost of living crisis: Sickle cell families staying in bed for warmth |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The family are wearing extra layers and using small heaters to keep warm | The family are wearing extra layers and using small heaters to keep warm |
| The soaring cost of living will lead to an increase in hospital admissions for people with sickle cell this winter, a charity has warned. | The soaring cost of living will lead to an increase in hospital admissions for people with sickle cell this winter, a charity has warned. |
| The condition, which affects red blood cells, means people must keep warm to avoid painful flare-ups which can often lead to a hospital stay. | The condition, which affects red blood cells, means people must keep warm to avoid painful flare-ups which can often lead to a hospital stay. |
| One Birmingham family said they were staying in bed to keep warm as energy bills rise. | One Birmingham family said they were staying in bed to keep warm as energy bills rise. |
| Charity Oscar said 89% of its clients were anxious about heating costs. | Charity Oscar said 89% of its clients were anxious about heating costs. |
| Joana and her 12-year-old son Steven, from Selly Oak, in Birmingham, both have sickle cell disease. | Joana and her 12-year-old son Steven, from Selly Oak, in Birmingham, both have sickle cell disease. |
| She said she had about £900 a month to live on and used small electric heaters to warm individual rooms, plus extra layers of clothing, to avoid putting the central heating on. | She said she had about £900 a month to live on and used small electric heaters to warm individual rooms, plus extra layers of clothing, to avoid putting the central heating on. |
| "When the house isn't warm, that triggers the pain so much more," she said. "Winter time is the worst. I always have to put layers of clothes on, like leggings, before my jeans." | "When the house isn't warm, that triggers the pain so much more," she said. "Winter time is the worst. I always have to put layers of clothes on, like leggings, before my jeans." |
| Steven said: "If I get cold, I feel a bit weird, I get chest pains and belly aches. We can't use any heaters, it wastes too much energy. Instead we just cover up, or stay in bed." | Steven said: "If I get cold, I feel a bit weird, I get chest pains and belly aches. We can't use any heaters, it wastes too much energy. Instead we just cover up, or stay in bed." |
| Hobby Rahman, from Oscar Birmingham, said the majority of service users were anxious about heating bills | Hobby Rahman, from Oscar Birmingham, said the majority of service users were anxious about heating bills |
| Oscar Birmingham, Organisation for Sickle Cell Anaemia Relief and Thalassaemia Support, works to improve the health, social and economic wellbeing of those with the disease. | Oscar Birmingham, Organisation for Sickle Cell Anaemia Relief and Thalassaemia Support, works to improve the health, social and economic wellbeing of those with the disease. |
| Hobby Rahman, from the charity, said: "If they fail to keep their homes warm sufficiently, that will trigger off a crisis, resulting in more children admitted into hospital, more pressures on the NHS." | Hobby Rahman, from the charity, said: "If they fail to keep their homes warm sufficiently, that will trigger off a crisis, resulting in more children admitted into hospital, more pressures on the NHS." |
| People with sickle cell disease produce unusual sickle-shaped red blood cells which can block blood vessels. It can cause chronic pain, especially when exposed to colder temperatures. | People with sickle cell disease produce unusual sickle-shaped red blood cells which can block blood vessels. It can cause chronic pain, especially when exposed to colder temperatures. |
| It is a genetic condition and is particularly common in African and Caribbean communities. | It is a genetic condition and is particularly common in African and Caribbean communities. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | |
| Cost of living |