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Because of chronic anemia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and iron chelation, pregnancy in homozygous and heterozygous compound beta-thalassemia patients stays a challenge. Pregnancies of transfused beta-thalassemia women registered in the French National Registry, conducted between 1995 and 2015, are described. These pregnancies were compared with pregnancies in healthy women and to data previously published in the literature. Fifty-six pregnancies of 37 women were studied. There were 5 twin pregnancies. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) were used in 9 pregnancies. Median term at delivery was 39 amenorrhea weeks, and median weight at birth was 2780 g. Cesarean section was performed in 53.6% of the pregnancies. There were 6 thromboembolic events, 6 serious infections, 6 pregnancy-induced hypertensions (PIH), 6 intrauterine growth retardations (IUGR), 5 severe hemorrhages, 4 gestational diabetes, 3 alloimmunizations, 2 heart diseases, and 1 pre-eclampsia. There were 5 infections and 4 osteoporosis in the first year of post-partum. ART and cesarean sections were more often used in the beta-thalassemia group, compared to control subjects. Thromboembolic events, PIH, hemorrhage at delivery, and IUGR were more frequent in the beta-thalassemia group. Time to delivery was not different, but infant weight at birth was significantly smaller in the beta-thalassemia group. In the post-partum period, global maternal complications were more frequent in the beta-thalassemia group. Pregnancy in transfused beta-thalassemia women is safe with rare obstetrical and fetal complications. Cesarean section remains often chosen, and infant weight at birth remains smaller than that in the general population, despite delivery at full term.

There is a need to provide high quality, evidence-based supportive and palliative care research. However, recruitment to supportive and palliative care research studies remains a challenge. Therefore, more research evidence is required in this specialty. The supportive and palliative care research model aims to: Improve care through research, increase awareness of research within the West Midlands and share nationally Support local hospices and care homes to become involved in research Encourage clinicians to identify topics for future research, to be adopted onto the National Research Portfolio, and ensure that researchers in the area are able to offer access to studies for participants in all areas. Progress and achievements to date include: contributing to the delivery of existing National Institute for Health Research Portfolio studies by carrying out site initiation visits and assisting with study recruitment. generating new studies that are running in the West Midlands (WM) through the WM Collaborative Actioning Research in End of Life and Supportive Care (WMCARES). sharing research priority topics identified following a survey of hospices in the West Midlands and to investigate in the near future. increasing our visibility across the West Midlands to promote and share our strategy. This has involved talks with local radio, West Midlands partner organisations, other Clinical Research Networks and primary care organisations. bringing together an enthusiastic and committed workforce of diverse healthcare professionals, including clinical research speciality and sub-specialty leads, a nursing team, locality manager, administrative staff, research delivery and portfolio managers. Our next planned steps include short and long term goals. Highlights include: Enhanced IT systems, develop a Health Research Authority flow diagram and create a Supportive and Palliative Care Nurse Forum with collaboration with CRN West Midlands.