This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Urgent calls for blood donations across the country
There is an urgent call out for blood donors across the country as Covid impacts donations.
Blood stocks are falling across the country, mainly due to higher levels of staff and donor illness, linked to the rise of Covid cases. Areas particularly affected include Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Leicester. This is also exacerbated by the fact that donations are often lower in the summer when people are busier with events and holidays.
Many sessions held in community venues are fully booked, but blood donor centres in cities have available appointments. Liverpool blood donor centre is 74 per cent booked and Manchester Norfolk House donor centre is 62 per cent booked. The Leicester donor centre is 44 per cent booked next week, while the Nottingham donor centre is 40 per cent booked.
The blood stock holding units in Liverpool and Manchester, which serve the cities and the wider region, currently hold four days worth of blood, compared to the expected six days.
The need for blood is back to the same levels as before the pandemic as postponed routine activities are now taking place.
The most in demand blood types are O positive, O negative and B negative.
Blood donations can be used to treat cancer and blood disorders as well as to treat those with medical trauma or having surgery, with each blood donation having the possibility to save or improve up to three lives.
The NHS Blood and Transplant organisation (NHSBT) assistant director of planning Mark Chambers said: “We are still supplying hospitals with all the blood they need. However we need to stop the decline in blood stocks now.
“We urgently need more people to make appointments to give blood at our Liverpool and Manchester donor centres.
“If you are one of our amazing donors in Liverpool and Manchester please make and keep an appointment.
“And if you have never donated before, now is a great time to make your first donation. You will be helping the NHS at an important time.
“Every appointment counts.”
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
