Demand for blood to treat sickle cell disease has surged by 132% over the past decade, prompting an urgent NHS appeal for more Black donors. Requests for haemoglobin S (HbS)-negative blood, essential for transfusions in sickle cell patients, rose from 82,181 units in 2015 to over 191,000 units last year.
HbS is a haemoglobin type common in people with sickle cell trait or disorder, causing red blood cells to become sickle-shaped and less flexible. Transfusions require HbS-negative blood to ensure normal function and avoid worsening the condition. The rising demand reflects increased transfusion programmes for the 17,000 people in England with sickle cell, predominantly of African and Caribbean heritage.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has about 775,000 blood donors, but only 21,500 are of Black or mixed Black ethnicity. John James, chief executive of the Sickle Cell Society, said: 'These figures show an urgent need for more blood donors, especially from Black and brown heritage communities. The blood types most commonly needed for sickle cell patients are more prevalent in people of Black heritage, who remain under-represented in the donor pool.'
Factors behind the demand increase include an ageing population, greater use of total blood replacement transfusions, and rising numbers from regions where sickle cell is common. Many patients develop antibodies requiring closely matched blood. Requests for rare blood for sickle cell patients rose 191% from 2023 to 2025.
Chiara Vendramin of NHSBT said: 'Beyond the HbS-negative requirement, there are many other blood group types to consider. Patients can develop antibodies over time, which makes it harder to find compatible blood. People from similar ethnic backgrounds are more likely to share blood types. While Black-heritage donors’ numbers have greatly increased, there is still an urgent need for more.'
