More platelet donors are needed

September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness month and we want to encourage more donors to switch to platelet donation. This is because 1 donation can help up to 12 children with cancer.

Currently, there are only 10,000 people in England who regularly give platelets and we need 3,500 new platelet donors this year.

We need more blood donors with A negative, A positive and AB negative blood types to consider changing to platelet donation.

Platelets are tiny gold-coloured cells in your blood which help it clot and stop bleeding. Most donations help people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy to avoid blood-loss, but platelet transfusions also help people who’ve lost a lot of blood after an accident, organ transplant or surgery.

The donation process

You can donate platelets at our 25 donation centres across the country. Donation appointments usually take up to two hours, with the donation itself taking up to 90 minutes. Our amazing staff will look after you and provide plenty of snacks and drinks so you can relax knowing you are saving even more lives.

Becoming a platelet donor

Although men and women can donate platelets and there are no age restrictions, people need to be, or have been, a blood donor before switching to platelet donation.

It’s easy to find out if you are suitable, register today or ask our staff about platelet donation when you next give blood.

If you are already a platelet donor, please call 0300 123 23 23 to book your next platelet appointment.