Registered blood donors urged to donate and fill appointment
slots at one of 25 centres nationwide
Help the NHS deal with the busy winter and keep blood stocks
strong
New donors welcome in the new year to join the lifesaving teams
Blood donors are being urged to book and keep appointments this
Christmas.
An appeal has been launched to make sure every appointment is
filled and turned into a vital lifesaving donation.
Winter is a particularly busy time for the NHS meaning blood
donations are more important than ever.
There are currently appointments available at the 25 permanent
blood donor centres across England.
Health Minister said:
“Christmas is a time for families and friends to get together but
also a time to help others and what better way than to save a
life.
“Giving blood is giving life to a stranger and by booking and
keeping an appointment, blood donors are able to do something
really special.
“So I urge people to spare just a small amount of time to make a
big difference.”
Appointments can be booked at Blood.co.uk and existing donors are
being asked to come forward with new donors asked to sign up in
the new year.
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.
Between 19 December 2022 and 8 January 2023, 73,465 units of
blood were collected and 74,467 were issued to hospitals making
every donation vital.
NHS Blood and Transplant needs to collect 1.45 million units of
blood each year to meet the needs of patients across England.
On average, 4,300 blood donations are required every day to
cope with demand from hospitals and 140,000 new donors will be
needed next year.
Mark Chambers, Director of Donor
Experience at NHS Blood and Transplant said:
“We’re encouraging all of our amazing blood donors to please book
and keep their appointments and help us save lives this
Christmas.
“Demand for lifesaving blood doesn’t stop for Christmas. Many
patients will need transfusions over the festive period as
treatment for a blood condition or cancer, or due to surgery,
childbirth, or an accident.
“We’d also love to welcome anyone giving blood for the first
time. If you don’t know your blood type you will find out after
donating – you might find out you have the type patients
especially need.
“It only takes an hour to give blood and each donation can help
save or improve up to three lives.”
Blood is needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood
disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing
surgery. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
People can register now and book an appointment at blood.co.uk on
the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- NHS Blood and Transplant launched its first ever festive
social media video this year to encourage people to ‘give the
greatest gift’ this year by donating blood – watch here and share on
Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter.
- There are four main blood groups – O, A, B and AB. O negative
(the universal blood group) and B negative are particularly
vulnerable to shortfalls. So, we want people with those blood
groups to donate as regularly as they can.
- The NHS needs up to 140,000 new blood donors each year to
replace those who stop donating and to ensure we have the right
mix of blood groups to match patient needs in the future
- We urgently need more Black heritage donors as they are more
likely to have the blood type needed to treat the increasing
number of patients suffering from sickle cell disease.
- There is an urgent need for donors with Ro blood. Only 2% of
our donors have Ro type blood. Collecting enough is a constant
challenge. Ro is often used to save people with the rare blood
disorder, sickle cell disease. Ro blood is ten times more common
in black people than in white people.
