Latest clinical guidelines

COVID-19 vaccine: re-vaccination after transplant

As per JCVI guidance, all patients who receive their COVID-19 vaccination before their stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy should be re-vaccinated with all primary doses and booster doses they are eligible for.

The timing of re-vaccination should be in line with the British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation recommendations i.e., 3-6 months after transplant or CAR-T.

You may find this template useful to arrange re-vaccination for your patient after their transplant or CAR-T treatment. It has been developed with NHS England. Clinicians based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland may need to adapt it for use locally.

Links to COVID-19 guidance

• Anthony Nolan BSBMTCT joint statement on vaccination policy for HSCT patients
• Green Book Chapter 14a: Coronavirus Vaccinations.
• BSBMTCT statement on vaccination and re-vaccination.
• NHSE: COVID-19 Inter-Seasonal Vaccination Referral Template

Late Effects Practice Guidelines

Our Late Effects Practice Guidelines (LEPG) have been created for transplant and non-transplant healthcare professionals. They:

• were developed by a working group and advisory group of transplant healthcare professionals, GPs and patient representatives, following research on current practice and need.
• apply to both autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants unless otherwise stated.

Psychological Assessment Guidance in HSCT (adults)

Guidelines for the role of psychological specialists in the assessment of adults undergoing Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

These guidelines have been developed by a working group within the UK Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Psychological Professionals Special Interest Group and are endorsed by the Association of Clinical Psychologists and Anthony Nolan.

The guidelines are aimed at registered psychological specialists at levels 3 and 4 (as specified in the NICE 2004 criteria), working within Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) centres. This document provides information and recommendations to facilitate psychological professionals who work as part of multidisciplinary teams (MDT) in HSCT.

The guidance aids HSCT centres in the development and implementation of clear pathways, with regards to pre-transplant psychological consultation and support for adults identified as suitable for HSCT, it also aims to inform transplant pathways and local commissioning arrangements in relation to psychological assessment and support within this specialist area.

• Psychological Assessment Guidance in HSCT (adults)

Patient Recovery Summaries

An Anthony Nolan recovery summary can be used to summarise recovery after transplant.

We recommend that this begins at six months post-transplant and is repeated at one year. It can then be used annually and can be used to follow up late effects of treatment.

As well as assessing physical recovery, a recovery summary will promote a holistic assessment, encouraging conversations around mental wellbeing, relationships, sexual health, finance and work.

A full guide is below, plus recovery summaries that you can print & complete, or edit as a PDF.

• Recovery Summaries Guide
• Recovery Summaries - 6 months (to print)
• Recovery Summaries - 6 months (editable PDF)
• Recovery Summaries - Annual (to print)
• Recovery Summaries - Annual (editable PDF)

Our guidelines are updated as and when relevant. If you have any questions, please email lead.nurse@anthonynolan.org.