The NHS has issued an urgent call for serving military and veterans across England to come forward and give blood due to critically low stocks, which have dropped to unprecedented levels.
There is a particular need for donors with O Negative blood types, as well as donors of Black heritage to help treat patients with sickle cell.
Veterans who already know their blood type, particularly those with the life-saving O negative blood type, are urged to book now.
Why the NHS needs your help:
Veterans who already know their blood type, particularly those with the life-saving O negative blood type, are urged to book now.
Why the NHS needs your help:
O Negative blood is vital and in high demand, as it is given to all patients in emergency situations and when the blood type isn’t known.
Hospital demand for O Negative blood has remained much higher following a cyber-attack last month which impacted several major London hospitals. The attack impacted the hospital’s ability to cross match patient’s blood and has increased reliance on vital O negative stocks.
The NHS also needs at least 12,000 additional donors of Black heritage to help meet the need for 250 blood donations per day, to treat patients with sickle cell with the right ethnically matched blood and to reduce the use of O Negative blood for sickle cell treatment.
Every minute the NHS needs three lifesaving blood donations to play a vital role in saving the lives of babies and mums after childbirth, fighting cancer, treating conditions like sickle cell and those injured in accidents.
How to donate
To find your nearest centre and to book an appointment, you can:
* Visit the Give Blood website
* Use the Give Blood app
* Call 0300 123 23 23
If you can't find an appointment immediately, please book for coming days, weeks and months – the need for blood never stops.
Hospital demand for O Negative blood has remained much higher following a cyber-attack last month which impacted several major London hospitals. The attack impacted the hospital’s ability to cross match patient’s blood and has increased reliance on vital O negative stocks.
The NHS also needs at least 12,000 additional donors of Black heritage to help meet the need for 250 blood donations per day, to treat patients with sickle cell with the right ethnically matched blood and to reduce the use of O Negative blood for sickle cell treatment.
Every minute the NHS needs three lifesaving blood donations to play a vital role in saving the lives of babies and mums after childbirth, fighting cancer, treating conditions like sickle cell and those injured in accidents.
How to donate
To find your nearest centre and to book an appointment, you can:
* Visit the Give Blood website
* Use the Give Blood app
* Call 0300 123 23 23
If you can't find an appointment immediately, please book for coming days, weeks and months – the need for blood never stops.
