NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has issued an urgent appeal for blood donors to come forward, warning that stocks across the country are lower than needed after a summer of heatwaves put additional pressure on the blood supply. Key blood types including O negative, B negative and the Ro subtype are particularly needed.
People in Greater Manchester are being urged to donate, with the city highlighted as an area with a particularly large number of appointments available. The city's two blood donor centres currently have more than 5,300 appointments available over the next six weeks.
Summer pressures hit supply
Health officials highlighted how even slightly warmer weather can impact a donor's iron levels, meaning fewer people are eligible to donate. Even on normal warm weather days, donations can reduce by 10 per cent because of donor iron levels, NHSBT said.
Holidays, childcare and travel deferrals for people who have been overseas can also affect the number of regular donations, as well as potential donors being dehydrated due to warm weather. At the same time, NHSBT said it has seen higher demand from hospitals during the heatwaves in June and July, with some patients who rely on regular transfusions needing more frequent treatment or larger quantities of blood.
Official appeal
Darren Bowen, assistant director for blood supply at NHSBT, said: "This summer has been a particularly challenging one for the blood service in England – with blood stocks hit by the triple whammy of hot weather, holidays and high demand from hospitals."
"With hot weather arriving earlier and lasting much longer than we have seen in recent years, it has resulted in lower collections along with increased demand from hospitals, with many patients reliant on regular transfusions for conditions like sickle cell needing more frequent treatment, or higher quantities of blood, than usual," he added. "We urge donors, especially those with B negative, O negative and the Ro subtype, as well as more donors of black heritage, to keep coming forward as we work to rebuild stocks."
International collaboration
Last month, NHSBT said blood supplies were under 'increased pressure', calling on donors to fill 60,000 appointments over the summer period. It comes as blood supply organisations across England, Canada and Australia have come together for the first time to launch an appeal for more blood donors across the three countries as a range of pressures have impacted blood supplies.
NHSBT has joined forces with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and both Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec in Canada to highlight the growing demand for blood because of ageing populations leading to more people living with conditions such as cancer and sickle cell that require regular blood transfusions for treatment. Across the three countries, blood supplies have dropped up to 30 per cent in recent months, NHSBT added.
Gerry Gogarty, director of blood and plasma supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, said with millions globally depending on blood transfusions for surgeries, trauma, cancer treatment and chronic disease, disruption to regular donation is a challenge all three countries face. "Blood collection systems are vulnerable to changing weather and climate, including heatwaves in summer and cold and flu outbreaks in winter, but regular donors are the foundation of a resilient supply," Mr Gogarty said. "By boosting the number of donors, particularly those with key blood types including O negative, B negative and the RO subtype needed to treat sickle cell, we can better withstand these shocks and ensure we are prepared for a future where events like this may happen more often."
How to donate in Manchester
NHSBT said Manchester "almost always has the highest appointment availability of anywhere in the country outside of London", with donors able to give blood at its two major centres. Donors in Manchester can give blood at the Plymouth Grove Blood Donor Centre or Manchester City Centre Blood Donor Centre at Norfolk House.
NHSBT is particularly urging people to book an appointment ahead of the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend to help boost stocks.
