Haematology : Specialists

What is haematology?

This branch of medicine is concerned with the blood: it focuses on how the circulation of the blood works and blood forming organs as well as investigating diseases related to this area, e.g. haemophilia.

What is a haematologist?

A haematologist is a specialist who is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders. He or she will also look at ways of preventing blood and bone marrow diseases.

What does a haematologist do?

He or she diagnoses, treats and prevents diseases of the vascular, blood, immune and haemostatic systems. This means treating a range of diseases which affect blood clotting (coagulation) and the production of blood cells, proteins and haemoglobin.

They may specialise in any of the following areas:

• Blood transfusion, blood banks and blood donors
• Haemoglobinopathies (genetic blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia)
• Malignancies of the blood such as leukaemia and lymphoma
• Blood clotting disorders such as haemophilia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (low platelet count).

Another specialist area is paediatric haematology and immunology –or blood disorders in children.

Treatments include:

• Blood transfusion
• Dietary advice
• Medication
• Anti-coagulation therapy
• Phlebotomy (taking blood samples)
• Bone marrow transplant
• Intra-muscular injections