Valerie Davis
Haemoglobinopathy Nurse Counsellor
Valerie trained and qualified as a registered nurse on the outskirts of London almost 4 decades ago. She has worked as a nurse across the length and breadth of the country to include Essex, Reading and the West Midlands. She has also worked in many nursing disciplines to include, Pediatrics, Accident & Emergency and NHS Direct.
She has been in her current role at the Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Support project as a Counselor/clinical nurse specialist for haemoglobinopathies since April 2010.
The role requires that I go into two of the local hospitals regularly as well as work within the community, visiting the homes of those affected by a Haemoglobinopathy. I work with families and individuals with sickle cell disease, thalassemia and other haemoglobinopathies to achieve optimum health, prevent complications and reduce hospital admissions.
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Valerie’s role is an ever-developing role that is integral in the care of individuals with haemoglobinopathies. Haemoglobinopathies are complex disorders that require specialist knowledge to deliver the very best care. To offer the best possible patient centered care, it’s vitally important that she a constant member of the team, who practices at the highest standard and promotes independence and the expert patient. She always seeks to support and challenge patients and members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the best possible outcome.
Also, in her role as a specialist nurse counsellor she provides high-quality counselling service to individuals identified as carriers of haemoglobin disorders, as well as to couples whose pregnancy may be at risk from serious inherited haemoglobin disorder. She works closely with midwives, paediatric and adult haematology services, general practitioners, health visitors and school nurses, as well as the regional screening unit. She attend’s a monthly Haemoglobinopathy outpatient clinic with the Haematology Consultant from one of the local hospitals to offer assistance and support in whatever capacity I’m able to do so.