London’s key emergency services back call for more life-saving O negative blood donations

Dee Thiruchelvam, Chief Nursing Officer at NHS Blood and Transplant, Jonathan Smith, Deputy Commissioner for London Fire Brigade, Jonathan Jenkins, Chief Executive of London’s Air Ambulance, Darren Farmer, Director of Ambulance Operations at London Ambulance Service and Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant pictured on the helipad at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. London's Air Ambulance, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade have come together to support NHS Blood and Transplant's appeal to Londoners to help book and fill appointments to give blood at one of the capital's seven donor centres. 

Through their day-to-day life-saving work, the teams at London's Air Ambulance, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade see first-hand the need for blood supplies, from attending road traffic collisions, stabbings and shootings through to fires, falls from height and incidents on the rail network. First responders rely on supplies of O negative blood as it is the universal type that can be safely transfused to critically injured patients at the roadside. 

Stocks of both O negative and B negative blood remain under particular pressure and more donations are urgently needed to keep these types in good supply. The NHS in England remains in Amber alert for low blood stocks.

Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, met with senior leaders from the three emergency services to thank them for their ongoing support. 

The visit, hosted by London’s Air Ambulance Service, saw the leaders come together at the Royal London Hospital where they also visited the helipad.  

A Life-saving Partnership: NHSBT and Emergency Services

Statements

Statement from Dr Jo Farrar

Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

"We're incredibly grateful to our partners at London’s Air Ambulance, London Ambulance and London Fire Service for the fantastic support they continue to give to promoting and driving blood donation. 

"Our job is to collect, manufacture and supply blood so the NHS can save lives. We can only do that thanks to our amazing donors. If you've never given blood before, please make an appointment to see if you're O negative."

Statement from Jonathan Jenkins

Jonathan Jenkins, Chief Executive, London’s Air Ambulance Charity, said:

"In 2012, London's Air Ambulance became the first air ambulance to carry blood on board our cars and aircraft. Since then, it is no exaggeration to say that blood has become crucial to our operations on a daily basis.

"All the blood we use comes from one single source – donations from the general public. Without that generosity, so much of the work our trauma teams do on scene would simply not be possible.

"I would urge anyone who can to give blood – for many of our patients, it can make a life-saving difference."

Statement from Jonathan Smith

London Fire Brigade's Deputy Commissioner, Jonathan Smith, said:

"In our role as first responders our teams see first hand how quickly a person can find themselves facing a life or death situation. The generosity of blood donors helps give critically injured patients the very best chance of survival – whether through a transfusion given at the scene or later in hospital.

"London Fire Brigade has long been committed to this cause, hosting blood donation drives at our fire stations to make it easier for local communities to give blood. We are proud to unite with our partner services, to call on more people to come forward and help save lives."

Statement from Darren Farmer

Darren Farmer, Director of Ambulance Operations at London Ambulance Service, said:

"Every day, our crews care for critically injured patients in the capital and they are proud to help in those vital moments. While our paramedics working on the air ambulance can do this on scene, we absolutely rely on stocks of donated blood – so by making an appointment today and donating your blood, you could be a lifeline for some of the sickest patients in London."

Our appeal to donors

NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing to donors to fill empty appointments at town and city donor centres across England following high demand for blood over the festive period and into the start of the new year.  

While community sessions are generally well filled, donor centres in towns and cities still have thousands of appointments available over the coming weeks. Donors are especially needed to fill slots during the quieter weekday morning and afternoon sessions.

Over 20,000 appointments are still available to book over the next six weeks across the seven main donor centres across London, including at the newly opened Brixton Donor Centre.

Why we need your help

Blood is constantly needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery, and O negative blood is mostly used for emergency treatment. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.  

As well as O negative and B negative donors, people with Ro blood are also particularly needed. There is an ongoing need for more donors of Black heritage to help patients with sickle cell who need ethnically matched blood. First time donors who don’t know their blood type will find out after their first successful donation.

To book an appointment visit the Give Blood website, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.