Worksop: Urgent need for blood donors

NHS Blood and Transplant says the need for blood is constant in September as children head back to school and people return to work.

Blood use within the NHS has reduced as a result of improvements in clinical and surgical practices. However hospitals and patients still rely on more than 7,000 people attending a donation session every day across England and North Wales.

Holly Mason, lead donor relations manager for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We need to maintain healthy blood stocks all year round to make sure patients get the blood they need whenever they need it.”

“Some of our donors might have recently been abroad to somewhere that means they need to take a short break from donating.”

“So whether you’ve donated before or are thinking about giving blood for the first time, check out if your foreign holiday has affected whether you can donate now.”

“If you can donate, please book an appointment to give blood and save lives. You never know when you or your loved one may need a life saving transfusion.”

It is important that vital blood stocks are maintained at all times, as red blood cells have a shelf life of just 35 days and platelets have a shelf life of only seven days. NHS Blood and Transplant needs to collect enough blood in the right quantities to meet patient needs and regular donors are crucial in enabling them to do so.

Blood is always required to treat patients for a range of reasons. It is used in accidents and emergencies but also during surgery and treatment for cancer and blood disorders, like sickle cell anaemia.

To find out if your summer holiday has affected whether you can donate now, visit www.my.blood.co.uk/KnowledgeBase/Travel.

You can register as a donor, find out when a session is upcoming up in your area and book an appointment to donate at www.blood.co.uk.

There is an upcoming session at The Crossing Church & Centre on Newcastle Street on Wednesday 24th September between 12.15-15.00 and 16.30-19.15.

Anyone aged between 17-65, weighing more than 50 kg and in general good health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor.