Donating blood in Brixton today [28th August 2026] alongside
other Lib Dem MPs, Liberal Democrat leader called for a national drive to beat the winter crisis
through a surge of vaccination and blood donations.
The party's plan would see seasonal vaccination and blood
donation points in village halls, supermarkets, churches,
workplaces and social clubs to deliver record levels of
vaccination and blood stocks ahead of the winter. It would call
upon volunteers to help put jabs in arms, as well as supporting
blood donation staff. Reliable blood stocks would prevent
operations being cancelled in the winter crunch, while increased
vaccination would reduce hospitalisations and bed occupancy.
Blood stocks face a dual pressure in winter, as seasonal illness
and busier diaries reduce donations, while demand for blood
increases due to increased emergency admissions and more pressure
on elective treatment. In winter of 2024-5 this reached crisis
point and, during Christmas, hospital demand exceeded collections
by close to 3,000 units, with O negative alone running short by
over 900 units.
The number of regular blood donors with the in-demand
typesOnegative and B negative has dropped five percent since
2020.
Meanwhile declining rates of vaccination threaten to increase
hospital admissions - with party analysis revealing that
influenza vaccination for over 65s fell by around 8 percentage
points - nearly 1 in 10 - between 2021/22 and 2025/26. Last
winter surging rates of flu were responsible for extremely high
hospital admissions, with flu related hospitalisations rising by
55% in one week and peaking at 3061 patients a day in the week
ending 21st December.
The NHS is now approaching winter having faced the busiest summer
ever recorded. May, June and July 2026 rank as the three busiest
months on record for A&E activity in England, with July alone
seeing 2.5 million attendances - the busiest single month in NHS
history. The hot weather also has a negative impact on blood
donations and even on normal warm weather days, blood
donations can often drop by5% to 10%down on what was expected due
to the impact on donor iron levels.
Liberal Democrat leader said:
The NHS is buckling, with patients paying the price.
From pensioners being treated on crammed hospital corridors, to
families having the rug pulled out from under them by cancelled
operations, this summer has been brutal for patients and staff
alike. The government needs to act now to protect families from a
devastating winter crisis and stop hospitals becoming totally
overwhelmed once again.
We all want to do our bit to help our neighbours, our families
and communities. That's why I'm giving blood today - like so many
people up and down the country.
By opening vaccine clinics and blood donations on people's
doorstep, in the places they know and visit, we can deliver
record levels of vaccinations and blood stocks. We need action
now to protect families - not a kneejerk, last minute response to
a crisis that everyone can see coming."
Notes to Editor:
will be joined by Lib Dem MPs, , , , and London Assembly Member
to donate blood at Brixton
Donor Centre.
Liberal Democrat analysis of official NHS statistics showing
declining vaccine rates for over 65s can be found here.
NHS warnings over summer depletion of blood stocks has been
reported here.
Desire among donors for more local blood donation sessions has
been reported here.
Reporting from January 2025 on blood shortages can be
found here
To book an appointment or register as a blood donor visit the
NHSBT website, download the NHS
Give Blood app or call 0300 123 23 23.
