New donor centres opened to support call for COVID-19 plasma donors in London
NHS Blood and Transplant is opening three new ‘pop-up’ COVID-19 convalescent plasma donor centres in London, as it massively expands collection.
The new locations include Harlequin’s Rugby ground, Twickenham Stoop, and also The Danson Centre in Bexleyheath and Westfield shopping centre in Stratford.
The three new centres will enable NHSBT collect an extra 500 plasma donations over the next two weeks
These have been created in addition to the existing, permanent donor centres in Tooting, Edgware, and the West End, bringing the total number of donation centres in London to six.
NHSBT is urgently trying to collect plasma and is creating additional temporary donor centres around the country. However London’s large population and high number of early infections and recoveries have made it the number one priority area for donations.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody rich plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19, which can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
The antibodies can attach themselves to the virus and stop it invading cells.
NHSBT is asking people from London who live near a donor centre and who have recovered from COVID-19 to get in touch on 0300 123 23 23 or register their interest via the NHSBT website as they may be able to donate too.
Prof David Roberts, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation, said: “Thank you to everyone in London for donating convalescent plasma to try and save lives.
“We know many people who can donate will have been through a difficult experience and we are grateful for their help.
“Convalescent plasma donation is safe and easy. If you get the call, please donate. Help your NHS fight COVID-19.”
On the opening of Twickenham Stoop centre, Harlequins’ CEO Laurie Dalrymple, said: “Harlequins is extremely proud to be working with the NHS on such important research into the treatment of the coronavirus. I know it means a lot to everyone at the Club that we can directly support the NHS in the fight against the virus that has so heavily impacted all our lives over these last few months.
“Building upon our long-standing relationship with the NHS as a blood donation centre, we draw immense pride from playing our part, however small, in battling against the coronavirus pandemic.”
More about convalescent plasma donation
Convalescent plasma donation takes about 45 minutes, during which time you can sit back and relax. Your body usually replaces the plasma you’ve donated in 24-48 hours and you can get on with your normal day after donating. Your body quickly replaces the antibodies and people can donate plasma as often as every two weeks.
Although there is some evidence of patient benefit from the use of convalescent plasma, the safety and effectiveness of convalescent plasma transfusions needs to be confirmed by a robust clinical trial, which is being led by NHSBT’s Clinical Trial’s Unit.
The plasma with the most antibodies tends to come from people who were more ill. For this reason, there is a particular need for recovered donors who are male, or who are aged over 35, or who were hospitalised. Their plasma is most likely to be able to save lives.
Plasma donations are being taken in the capital at the donor centres in:
- West End Blood Donor Centre, Westminster – which has taken more than 530 donations already
- Edgware Blood Donor Centre, Barnet – which has taken more than 150 donations already
- Tooting Blood Donor Centre, Wandsworth – which has taken more than 300 donations already
- Twickenham Stoop – which opened this week
- Danson Centre, Bexleyheath – which opened this week
- Westfield, Stratford – which is opening in July
The number of plasma donation appointments in London will increase further as the national plasma programme expands.
