Blood needed every 10 minutes as NHS urges public to become lifesaving donors
Hospitals in Birmingham need one lifesaving blood donation every 10 minutes, the NHS has revealed as it urges more people in the city to become a donor and save lives.
NHS Blood and Transplant has revealed the figure during National Blood Week (June 10-16) to highlight the vital yet sometimes overlooked role of donated blood in emergency and planned patient care.
The NHS is calling on more people in the city to come forward and book an appointment to donate, to help ensure seriously ill patients continue to receive the blood they need.
While all blood types are needed, O negative and O positive donors are in particular demand. Following the bank holidays and school holidays, the NHS currently has lower than normal stocks of type O blood.
O negative is the type that can be given to anyone which makes it vital in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown.
Air ambulances and emergency response vehicles carry O negative supplies. O positive is the most popular blood type – 35 percent of donors have it – and can be given to anybody with any positive blood type.
O blood types are in greatest demand from hospitals and the first to be a challenge if stocks are running low. So it is crucial that the NHS has a robust pool of donors to rely on.
More donors of Black heritage are also needed to provide ethnically matched blood for people with sickle cell. Hospitals need a record 250 donations a day for sickle cell, which is the fastest growing genetic blood disorder in the UK.
Nadine Rose-Smith (pictured) from Birmingham is passionate about encouraging others to give blood, particularly those of Black heritage, after a cancer diagnosis means she can no longer donate.
The 33-year-old from Hall Green began giving blood at the age of 17. In January this year she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. She is undergoing chemotherapy but is now in remission.
She said: “Having been a blood donor and now as a blood cancer survivor, I know how crucial donated blood is. It can be a lifeline for people with cancer and other conditions like sickle cell.
“It was hard to hear that I could never donate again after my diagnosis. But I can help by inspiring others to donate.
“I’m especially passionate about raising awareness in the Black community. For people who need ongoing transfusions, blood from a donor of the same ethnicity is so important.
“But we don’t have enough donors of Black heritage. I want to encourage more Black people to step forward and save lives.”
Every minute the NHS in England needs three lifesaving blood donations to play a vital role in the treatment of diseases, recovery from trauma and successful surgeries.
Paul O’Brien, director of Blood Supply for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Demand for blood never stops. To make sure blood is always there for patients who desperately need it, we need more people to join our amazing community of blood donors.
“Right now we especially need more people in Birmingham with the critical O negative or O positive types to come in and donate.
“Please book an appointment today. Giving blood is quick and easy, and you will save lives.”
Click here to book an appointment. Appointments can also be booked via the GiveBloodNHS app.
