Latest news with #NHSBloodandTransplant
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Jourdan Dunn donates blood and calls for more black heritage donors
Jourdan Dunn donates blood and calls for more black heritage donors Dunn, known for appearing on the catwalks of London, Paris and New York, attended the capital's newest blood donation centre in Brixton, south London, to mark World Sickle Cell Day. Jourdan Dunn (Image: Charlotte Tilbury ) Model Jourdan Dunn has highlighted the need for more black heritage donors to come forward to give blood – as she provided a blood donation herself. Dunn, known for appearing on the catwalks of London, Paris and New York, attended the capital's newest blood donation centre in Brixton, south London, to mark World Sickle Cell Day. Dunn's teenage son Riley is one of the country's 13,000 sickle cell patients who rely on blood transfusions from black heritage donors so they can live with the condition. Sickle cell is the country's fastest-growing inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects black African and black Caribbean communities, according to the NHS. Around 250 babies are born with the condition in the UK each year. The service currently needs to recruit 16,000 new black heritage blood donors this year to meet the growing need. Article continues below Regular blood transfusions form the first line of defence against the condition, with patients responding best to donations containing the Ro blood type, which is significantly more prevalent in donors of black heritage. More than half (56%) of donors of black heritage are likely to have the Ro blood type, compared with just 2.4% of other ethnicities. Dunn, 34, said: "As a mother who has seen her child battle sickle cell, I am committed to doing all I can to help him, and the thousands of other people with the condition, have the best chance to live a full and healthy life. "That's why I've come to Brixton to give blood and ask the black community to register to do the same. "By giving an hour of your time three to four times a year, you can save up to 12 lives – that's an amazing power you have in your hands. "I'm incredibly thankful to the record numbers of black donors who have given blood in Brixton and across the country, but as numbers of sickle cell patients increase, so too does the need for more donors to come forward. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) director of donor experience Mark Chambers said: "We've seen a great response to our calls for more black heritage donors to sign up to become blood donors, but the need for more to register and become regular blood donors is growing. "Blood transfusions to pre-empt sickle cell crises are helping more people live well with the condition, but on average we need 250 donations a year to help them, that's why it's vitally important we recruit more black heritage donors. "Jourdan's support, both as an NHS ambassador and a donor, will hopefully encourage others to follow her lead and spare an hour of their time to make a lifesaving difference." Sickle cell patient Calvin Campbell said: "I owe my life to the generosity of black heritage donors. "Every four weeks I need to have 10 to 12 units of blood transfused into my body to allow me to be relatively healthy. "Without those blood donations I would have died years ago and not have the life I have now. Article continues below "I wouldn't have had children, grandchildren, and the ability to work." Those wanting to donate blood can register via the NHSBT app, visit or call 0300 123 23 23.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Should people be paid to donate blood? Yahoo readers have their say
Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After the poll closes, we'll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers. The NHS is urging people to come forward as blood donors, saying there is a "critical" need for certain blood types. On Monday this week, officials said 200,000 more donors were needed in England to maintain the blood supply. Low blood stocks prompted officials to issue an 'amber alert' over supply for hospitals last year and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said more must be done to avoid a 'red alert'. The blood type most in demand is the so-called universal blood type — O negative blood — needed for treatment in emergencies. There is also a need for more Black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types that can help treat people with sickle cell disease. In our poll earlier this week, we asked Yahoo readers if they thought an incentive could attract more donors and posed the question: Should people be paid for donating blood? Two thirds of respondents to our poll (66%) thought no, blood donations should be voluntary. Some 29% thought yes, people should be paid, while a further 5% were undecided. We also asked, 'How much would prompt you to donate blood?' The vast majority of respondents (70%) said they were happy to do it for free. Of those who stated an amount, the most popular options were smaller sums, 8% said a value up to £20 would tempt them, while a further 8% cited a payment between £21 and £40. Only 5% said an amount of £100 or more would prompt them to donate. The poll's Have Your Say feature attracted some passionate comments, with a number of readers citing safety concerns as one of the reasons they didn't agree with payment for donations. Stephen A from Westbury, said: "I don't think it is a good idea to pay people for blood donations because we could have a similar situation to the blood scandal in the seventies. People who had all sorts of illnesses and drug-related problems sold their blood and created an unnecessary health problem for otherwise healthy individuals." Richard S from the Highlands agreed, saying: "Payment for blood will attract many short of money because they have taken drugs." Some readers even said payment would prevent them from donating. "I decided to become a blood donor when my wife was admitted to hospital in the last month of pregnancy," said Ian H from Hinckley. "I have now completed 104 donations … If I was told at that first donation that I would be paid, I would not have continued." However, some including Lenny T from Kent, said they agreed with payments for donation. "If it means more people will donate blood, it will help hospitals and doctors," they explained. Others said there were better ways to attract more donors, such as making the opening times and locations of donor centres more convenient, as well as increasing the age limit for giving blood, which currently stands at 65. "Those who donate do so for the best of reasons, to help others. it is a privilege to be able to help those in desperate need, and I was glad to be able to do so," said HMW from the Scottish Highlands. "I wish they would take blood from older folk – I'm late 60s – even if they have some health issues. If their iron is okay and you are not on life-saving meds, and are a universal donor – group O – it would help in crisis situations. I would love to be able to do something so useful beyond retirement." Denise D who lives in Italy said that convenience was an issue. "My daughter tried to give blood, she's donated for a long time. She tried to get another appointment, the first available appointment was three months later and 30 miles away," she said. "There need to be more collection points and nearer city centres." N Anderson from Worcestershire agreed saying: "Maybe the service should come to local villages, as they used to, asking people to travel to main towns with transport and parking charges is not on." Read more of Yahoo UK's Poll of the Week articles
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Londoners urged to give blood with help from a classic Jamaican dish
With urgent calls for more Black heritage blood donors - a new initiative hopes to get more Londoners donating, one patty at a time While a Jamaican patty might not seem like a lifesaving tool, for thousands of Londoners, it could be the very reason they finally roll up their sleeves to donate blood. As part of a new campaign for National Blood Week, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has teamed up with Jamaican food brand Port Royal Patties. With demand for blood donations rising, the two have come up with a powerful way to spotlight the issue by printing QR codes on 180,000 patty wrappers. The 'food for thought' initiative aims to encourage more Londoners, especially those from Black Caribbean and Black African heritage, to donate blood. For many, blood isn't just needed - it's a lifeline. Jeannine Joseph, 28, knows this first hand. Diagnosed with sickle cell before birth, she receives eight units of blood every five and a half weeks to stay alive. 'If regular blood transfusions weren't an option for people with sickle cell, our lives would be unbearable,' she said. 'In May I was hospitalised for almost three weeks. My doctors couldn't get my crisis under control with pain meds. It wasn't until I had a blood transfusion that I instantly felt better and was able to go home.' That need is exactly what moved Port Royal's MD, Edward Johnston, to act. After stumbling across an NHSBT blood drive years ago, he learned about the urgent need for Black heritage donors and signed up himself. 'We're a London company with Jamaican heritage, and we believe it's vital to support initiatives that help the community thrive,' he said. 'I'm proud we're part of the drive to encourage more Black people to give blood. I hope other businesses follow our lead and support NHSBT's lifesaving work.' Black heritage donors are ten times more likely to have the Ro blood type - the one most needed to treat sickle cell patients and reduce the risk of complications. But despite this, they still only make up 2% of UK blood donors. Almost half of the country's 20,000 Black heritage donors are based in London, and numbers have been steadily rising since June 2024. But NHSBT still needs to recruit an extra 16,000 Black donors this year alone to keep up with demand. 'London's Black communities have stepped up in a big way,' said Iroro Agba, Assistant Director at NHSBT. 'But with sickle cell cases rising, we urgently need more people to come forward, especially those with the Ro blood type. If we can keep building partnerships and showing up in our communities, I'm confident we'll get there.' Wembley-based Port Royal's patties now carry NHSBT's 'Blood Saves Lives' message and a scannable QR code that links straight to the blood donation sign-up page - making it as easy as possible to get involved. Many people still hold back from donating whether it's down to fear of needles, not knowing they're eligible, or simply not realising how urgent the need really is. But NHSBT is working hard to challenge those misconceptions and make giving blood part of everyday community culture. And this campaign is far from a one-off. NHSBT continues to build a culture of blood donation through events, outreach, and partnerships that challenge misconceptions and raise awareness of health conditions that disproportionately impact the Black community. 'If you've got the Ro type, chances are your sibling or parent does too,' Iroro added. 'So why not go together? Bring a friend or family member - it takes just an hour and can truly change someone's life.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blood donor map shows the best places to donate
The NHS is urging people to come forward as blood donors to maintain its supply as low stocks prompted officials to issue an 'amber alert'. Officials from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) have called for a million regular blood donors to step forward so that a 'red alert' – which means that blood supply is so low that there is a threat to public safety – can be avoided. NHSBT said there is a 'critical' need for more donors who have the so-called universal blood type – O negative blood – which is needed for treatment in emergencies. There is also a need for more Black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types that can help treat people with sickle cell disease. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: 'Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy – you'd truly be one in a million.' Zoom in and click on your nearest blood donation centre to find out addresses and opening times: There are 27 permanent locations across the country where you can donate blood, as seen in our map above. However, there are thousands more community facilities for smaller areas as well as pop-ups that, while less well-staffed, are still open for donations. Many of these places include sports centres, football clubs and churches. A blood donation appointment takes around an hour in total, including 10 to 15 minutes to donate, plus time to have a drink and a snack. According to NHSBT, men can typically donate blood every 12 weeks, while women should wait 16 weeks between donations. This is due to men generally having higher iron levels than women, making it safer for men to donate more frequently. Just 2% of the population – some 800,000 people – sustained the whole of England's blood supply over the past 12 months – meaning another 200,00 people are needed to meet demand. NHSBT said that there has been a rise in the number of people who registered to be donors in the last year, but only 24% of these have gone on to donate. The amber alert was triggered in July 2024 after a cyber attack on London hospitals and blood stocks have reportedly remained low ever since. The alert is triggered when blood levels fall under two days' worth of stock. It allows hospitals to implement their emergency measures to minimise usage, move staff to laboratories to vet the use of all O type blood and use patient blood management systems to minimise use of O type blood. The NHS needs to collect 1.45 million units of blood and have up to 200,000 new blood donors each year to replace those who stop donating and to ensure the right mix of blood groups for future patients' needs. Not everyone is able to give blood, due to factors such as age, medical history and weight. Generally, those who are aged between 17 and 65 and weigh between 7 stone 12lbs and 25 stone are able to give blood. People with serious health conditions such as cancer, HIV and some heart issues will not be able to give blood, while anyone who has injected non-prescribed drugs will also be prohibited.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Can I donate blood and how do I do it? Urgent call for donors amid low stocks
The NHS needs 200,000 more regular blood donors to sustain a safe and sufficient supply. Low blood stocks in 2024 prompted an "amber alert', but blood stocks have remained low ever since. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is now urging more people to donate to avoid a "red alert", which is a critical situation where public safety is threatened. It described the past year as "challenging" for blood stocks, noting that just under 800,000 people are supporting the entire blood supply in England. The whole process of giving blood takes just one hour. When arriving at a blood donation centre, you are asked to complete a safety check to make sure you can give blood. You will be given 500ml of fluid to drink – drinking this will help the body maintain blood pressure, prevent dizziness and help the body replenish the donated blood. Then, to ensure it is safe to donate blood, medics will confirm your identity and information in your health check. In some cases, a registered nurse will follow up. A drop of blood from your finger is then checked for iron levels. If these levels are too low, the appointment will be rescheduled. Those able to donate will be seated in the waiting area before being called to a donation chair. Here, a cuff will be placed on your arm to maintain a small amount of pressure during the donation before a suitable vein is found and the area is cleaned. Then, a needle will be inserted into your arm to collect your blood into a blood bag, which has your unique donor number on it. A scale weighs the blood and stops when you have donated 470ml - that's just under a pint. The needle is then removed from your arm, and a dressing is applied. The NHS says the process of giving blood should not hurt and should only take about 10 minutes. Although more donors are needed, there are some health, travel and lifestyle reasons that may stop you from donating blood. Donors need to be fit and well, aged between 17 and 65, weigh between 7 stone 12 Ibs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg) and have suitable veins. However, you can't donate blood if you have cancer, some heart conditions, have tested positive for HIV or are a hepatitis B or C carrier. If you have received blood platelets, plasma or any other blood products after January 1980, or if you have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents, you also cannot donate. If you've had anal sex with a new partner in the last three months you may have to postpone your donation. If you feel unwell, are pregnant or have had a baby in the last six months, have had a tattoo or piercing, or have recently travelled to certain countries outside the UK, you may also have to wait before you can donate blood. There are thousands of blood donation venues across England, some are permanent and others are pop-ups. Church halls, sports centres, mosques, football stadiums and hotels are all used as pop-up venues. To check where your closest one is, visit the Give Blood website. You will need to book an appointment ahead of your donation which can be done online as soon as you have signed up as a blood donor. There is a 'critical' need for more donors who have the so-called universal blood type, O negative blood, which is needed for treatment in emergencies. The NHS said there is also a need for more Black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types which can help treat people with sickle cell disease.
