News and campaigns

Latest news

Stories, press releases and statements.

NHS urges people to give blood and help save lives this year after challenging festive period

The NHS in England is urging people to make saving lives one of their New Year’s resolutions by giving blood as figures released today reveal that over the Christmas week demand for blood from hospitals exceeded collections by almost 3,000 units.

Plasma exchange allows patient to receive new heart for Christmas

NHS Blood and Transplant's own 'Saint Nick' gave the best gift possible, working overnight so a patient could receive a new heart before Christmas

Boy enjoys Christmas one year on from stem cell transplant using umbilical cord donated at Christmas 15 years earlier

Gunner Lewis-Vale received a stem cell transplant in January 2024, to treat a rare genetic disorder and extend his life. Now, the five-year-old is enjoying celebrating Christmas one year on.

Campaigns

We run various campaigns to find the 135,000 new donors we need each year and encourage them to carry on donating.

The NHS needs great guys

We have teamed up with Twentieth Century Studios on the release of their epic adventure-comedy, “Free Guy” to help get more people donating blood.

#Date2Donate

Mim Shaikh and Harry Pinero chat about their friend Cadet, the Eid of sacrifice and the Arabic alphabet, all while giving blood.

More people now able to give blood

The questions we ask before you give blood have changed. More people could be eligible to donate blood based on their health, travel and sexual behaviour.

The Donor

Remarkable stories from the world of giving blood.

Bringing it home

Sometime in 2020, O negative donor Steve Bryant learned that his blood was suitable for neonatal patients – newborn babies. Despite his lengthy commitment to saving lives, nothing had previously quite hit home in the same way.

Head-to-head – blood and plasma

Donating blood and donating plasma – same same, but different. Both are vital, lifesaving acts that help people in need, but there are some key distinctions between the two.

Like father, like son

Both big cricket fans, James and Oliver are season ticket holders for Birmingham Bears and Birmingham Phoenix. When they're not at Edgbaston, they're at Birmingham Donor Centre, forging a prolific partnership.

Media enquiries

Get information about blood donation, arrange a visit and find expert spokespeople.

Email: pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Phone: 01923 367600 (open 24 hours a day)

Due to the large volume of media enquiries we receive, we are not able to help students with research or other projects.

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