Blood donors needed in Leicestershire
The NHS is calling for blood donors in Leicestershire as four Bank Holidays in just six weeks have impacted vital blood stocks
Blood donors in Leicestershire are being called upon as England remains in Amber alert for low stocks.
The NHS say that the four Bank Holidays being so close together have impacted the amount of O negative and O positive blood stocks.
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.
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 28 town and city centre donor centres where there is good appointment availability – including the Leicester Donor Centre – with a particular need to fill daytime appointments.
There's over 1,500 appointments yet to be filled at the Leicester Donor Centre.
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.
Across the country there are still thousands of appointments available to fill, with greatest availability at our donor centres situated in major towns and cities, including Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth and Sheffield.
Donating a unit of blood takes just an hour and each donation can save up to three lives.
You can book a blood donation appointment at www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 to find your nearest session.
For more details about the donor centre, visit: Leicester Donor Centre