Dr Emma Whicher, medical director at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, said:

“We offer our sincere condolences and apologies to Mr Smith’s family.

“In 2019, we carried out a thorough internal investigation into Mr Smith’s care and treatment and we recognise that this should have been better. Since then, we have made a range of improvements, including introducing a specialist sickle cell area on one of our wards, providing extra training for staff around the disease as well as ongoing engagement with the local community who this disease disproportionately impacts."