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.
During the same period, demand for the vital O negative blood used to save lives in emergencies exceeded collections by over 900 units.
The festive period is always a challenge for blood stocks as cold weather, seasonal illnesses and busier diaries lead to more unfilled and missed appointments, while demand from hospitals can rise.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are the only days of the year that blood isn’t collected.
Currently England remains in Amber alert for low blood stocks. While community venues are well booked, there is good availability at the 27 donor centres over the coming weeks and months.
There are currently almost 11,000 appointments to fill across England over the next two weeks in town and city centre donor centres.
Donors are being asked to make an appointment to donate if they don’t already have one. People who have registered as a donor but not yet made an appointment to give blood are also encouraged to take that next step and make their first donation at one of the town and city centre donor centres.
People with O negative, B negative and Ro blood types are particularly needed in the coming weeks. 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.
Help save lives
The 27 town and city donor centres have greater appointment availability than community venues. NHS Blood and Transplant especially needs donors to fill slots at donor centres during the quieter weekday morning and afternoon sessions.
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 care. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
To book an appointment visit our website, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.