The Donor magazine Summer 2017

The Donor magazine summer 2017

Hello, and welcome to the summer 2017 edition of The Donor magazine.

Ian Trenholm

I’d like to thank you all sincerely for your continued support. Since the last edition of the magazine, we have seen blood stocks remaining stable – and that’s all thanks to you. You supported our winter appeal, when we asked you to help us to fill the Christmas stockings by making an appointment to donate. Happily, your actions meant that we were able to keep hospitals supplied with life-saving stocks of blood over the festive season.

More recently, we have received an overwhelming public response after the terror attacks in Manchester and London. I would like to thank our long standing donors whose regular donations meant that when the incidents occurred we had enough blood on the shelves to immediately respond to the requests from hospitals. Many others were inspired to come forward to donate and hopefully start the habit of lifetime. I would like to thank all those who came forward to donate as well as my own colleagues who worked incredibly hard in difficult circumstances.

National Blood Week is upon us again, and we are hoping to build on the success of last year, and encourage more people to register as blood donors. This year, we are highlighting the vital role that donors have – showing that you don’t have to be in the operating theatre or the hospital ward to save a life; once you’ve made that critical donation, you can go about your life whilst making such a difference to someone else’s.

We explore the different blood groups in this edition, and look specifically at the very rare blood subtype, Ro, and why it is so important – particularly for people requiring regular blood transfusions, such as those with sickle cell anaemia.

Also covered in this edition is the story of Jo Daniels. Jo’s life has been transformed by your donations, and she explains how blood has allowed her to see her daughter again.

As we enter the summer months, many of us will be travelling to warmer climates to enjoy a well-deserved holiday. During this time we sometimes see a dip in donations as people go away or their destination means that they can’t donate when they return. Please help us to maintain blood stocks by making an appointment to donate before you go on holiday.

We appreciate your dedication to blood and platelet donation. It really does mean so much to so many patients whose lives are saved or improved because of your actions.

Thank you for being there.
#GiveBlood #ImThere