- NHS Blood and Transplant issues urgent plea as blood stocks drop due to recent hot temperatures, impacting collections and demand from hospitals remains high
- O negative, B negative, Ro blood types all in particularly short supply, with extra boost needed for O positive stocks too
- With summer travel leading to potential restrictions once people return to the UK, donors are urged to ‘give before you go’ – book now at www.blood.co.uk.
An urgent appeal has been issued to blood and platelet donors in Birmingham to help fill 3,200 available appointments at the city’s donor centre as the NHS faces a significant shortfall in blood stocks, with hot weather, holidays and high demand all significantly impacting supplies.
With schools now finished for summer and families heading off on holidays, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging the public to book and fill appointments over coming days and weeks. As many get ready to set off overseas, the NHS is urging people to ‘give before you go’ – to avoid any delay or restrictions on donating once they return home.
Donations often drop over busy holiday periods, and combined with the impact of recent hot weather, this has placed increased pressure on blood stocks – with stocks of certain blood groups currently at only half of what the NHS aims for – including just over three days of O negative and B negative, compared to the usual six days target.
Even on normal warm weather days, blood donations can often drop by 5% to 10% down on what was expected due to an impact on donor iron levels, with hot days risking even higher levels of donors being unable to donate or sessions being unable to run.
The NHS has also seen an increased need for sickle cell patients requiring emergency transfusions and treatment due to the hot weather, leading to an increased demand for Ro blood, most common in donors of Black heritage – and placing further pressure on O negative and B negative blood which must often be issued when not enough Ro blood is available.
Since the start of June, NHS Blood and Transplant has issued an additional 2,237 units of red cells (equivalent to 0.5 day of stock), of which 673 of these were O negative (additional one day of stock).
Advice from NHS Blood and Transplant team for donors giving blood over the summer and particularly during warmer weather is:
· Ensure to drink plenty of water in the days leading up to a donation
· Eat well in the hours before your appointment
· Wear cool, loose, comfortable clothing
· Avoiding strenuous exercise either before or immediately after donating
Existing donors who are eligible to donate are being called on to come forward and make an appointment to donate if they don’t already have one. People who are keen to start donating are also encouraged to take that first step and book in for their first donation.
Across England there are around 60,000 appointments available to fill over the next six weeks with greatest availability at donor centres situated in major towns and cities including Birmingham. The city’s New Street donor centre has around 3,200 appointments available over this period.
“The need for blood never stops,” said Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood and Plasma Supply at NHS Blood and Transplant.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has already donated in recent weeks, but we must act now to avoid stocks falling even further. To help boost vital life-saving supplies, we urgently need anyone eligible to donate to book an appointment as soon as they can – and help us fill appointments over the busy and hot summer ahead.
“If you can’t find an appointment straight away, please book in whenever you can find an available slot 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.
Giving 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.
