Health service plea for donors to give blood
HALTON residents are being urged to register as blood donors.
Over the last year, 900,000 people have given up their time to help patients in need.
But NHS Blood And Transplant says 200,000 new donors are needed each year to ensure that patients in the future have access to the blood they need.
Last year 16,103 people in Cheshire gave blood at least once, but fresh donors are needed to ensure there is the right mix of groups.
An NHS Blood And Transplant spokeswoman said there is a ‘particular need’ for more young people to donate as part of National Blood Week.
Half of all donors in England are over 45 so the organisation is aiming to recruit younger people to help meet patient needs now and in the future.
NHS Blood And Transplant’s director of blood donation Mike Stredder said: “Every day, blood donors from Cheshire make a difference; saving people whose lives depend on blood.
“Whether it is patients receiving treatment for cancer, blood disorders, after accidents, surgery or during childbirth.
“Thanks to the generosity of our loyal network of regular donors, we can ensure that hospitals have the blood needed to treat patients and, as recent ● weeks have sadly proven, make certain our stocks are strong enough to respond to major incidents and emergencies.
“At the same time, there is an ongoing need for more young donors to safeguard blood donation for future generations.
“And it is vital our blood donors, reflect the diversity of the population because blood types vary across communities.
“Those who rely on regular transfusions, need blood which is more closely matched than by group alone, and this will often come from donors of the same ethnicity.
“Don’t worry if you’ve never given blood before and don’t know what blood group you are – you find out shortly after your first donation. What’s important is that you register as a donor and book your first appointment to donate. By saying ‘I’m there’, you can save the life of someone else, while going about yours.”
The NHS organisation is also seeking more black donors to help save the lives of patients with sickle cell disease across England.
The illness is the fastest growing genetic condition in England and the spokeswoman said it is most common in black people, causing extreme pain, life-threatening infections and other complications such as stroke or loss of vision.
The spokeswoman said: “To get the best treatment, patients who receive regular blood transfusions for conditions like sickle cell disease, need blood which is closely matched to their own.
“This is most likely to come from a donor of the same ethnicity.
“Yet only 1% of current blood donors are black.”
Donating blood should take no more than an hour from appointment time and each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
In general, the NHS organisation say those are fit and healthy, weigh more than seven stone 12 lbs – 50kg – and are aged between 17 and 66 or up to 70 if they have given blood before, residents should be able to give blood. Those over 70 will need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating.
Residents who are already a blood donor are also being urged to find out why about becoming a platelet donor.
Donors with the A negative blood group are needed as they can help any patient, regardless of blood type.
One platelet donation can help up to three adults or 12 babies or children.
To sign up as a new donor or book an appointment call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk