A critical appeal has been issued to blood and platelet donors across England to help fill over 50,000 available appointments at town and city centre donor centres as the NHS warns of a looming shortfall in blood stocks, with four Bank Holidays in just six weeks threatening to impact supplies. Over 5,000 of the appointments still to be filled are at the three Yorkshire donor centres in Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford.
As millions enjoy the two Bank Holidays and half term holiday which fall together in May, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging the public to book and fill appointments over the next six weeks.
Blood donations often drop over bank holiday weekends, and with Easter falling late this year, four bank holidays in just six weeks have placed increased pressure on blood stocks.
Currently England remains in Amber alert for low stocks of O negative and O positive blood, so it is critical that enough donors step forward now to keep blood in good supply to hospitals throughout May and into the summer months.
Donors are being asked to make an appointment to donate if they don’t already have one. People who want to start donating are also encouraged to take that first step and make their first donation.
People are urged to book into one of the donor centres where there is good appointment availability with a particular need to fill daytime appointments. Currently, over the next six weeks, Leeds has around 2,400 available appointments.
People with O negative, O positive, A positive and RO blood types are particularly needed over the coming weeks. There remains an ongoing need for more donors of Black heritage to help patients with sickle cell who need ethnically matched blood.
“The need for blood never stops,” said Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply at NHS Blood and Transplant. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has donated so far this year, but we must act now to avoid falling behind.
“To avoid facing a ‘spring slump’ in donations, we urgently need donors to book an appointment today – and help us fill appointments over the weeks ahead.
“If you can’t find an appointment straightaway, please book further ahead or keep checking back to help fill last minute availability or cancellations. Each donation has the power to save up to three lives.”
Hospitals across England need over 5,000 blood donations every day to ensure they have the blood they need to treat patients for wide variety of reasons – from traumatic injuries or accidents, cancer treatments, sickle cell and childbirth. However, blood has a shelf life of 35 days, and platelets only seven days, so it is vital stocks are constantly replenished.
Donating a unit of blood takes just an hour and each donation can save up to three lives.
Book a blood donation appointment today at www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 to find your nearest session.
For more details about the Leeds donor centres, see: Leeds Donor Centre.
This post is based on a press release issued by the NHS Blood & Transplant Service
Photo: Kirsty Hamilton Photography
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