More than 200,000 people signed up to give blood have yet to make their first donation, the NHS has said. It follows the first ever amber alert warning of low blood stocks last October - during which there were fewer appointments for new donors because of staffing shortages.
But the health service says stocks have since stabilised and there are now more slots available for new donors. NHS Blood and Transplant is urging new registrants who have not yet donated to "take the next step" and book an appointment.
Figures show 235,000 people in England who signed up to give blood last year are yet to make their first donation. Donors of Black heritage are particularly needed, as they are more likely to have the blood type needed to treat sickle cell patients – the country’s fastest growing genetic blood disorder. The NHS says demand for ethnically matched blood for these patients is on the rise and has already doubled in recent years.
Bosses say permanent donor centres in towns and cities generally have greater availability and longer opening hours than mobile sessions held in community venues such as church halls.
David Rose, director of donor experience at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We always need new people to join our amazing community of lifesaving blood donors and help meet the needs of patients right now and in the future. More slots are now available for first time donors but if you can’t find an immediate appointment, don’t worry.
“Please book for further in the future as we need lifesavers every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s months or weeks ahead – every donation counts. Giving blood is quick and easy, and you will feel amazing afterwards.”
It comes as NHS Blood and Transplant launches the second phase of its first ever mass home testing campaign to help identify 5,000 individuals with O negative blood. This universal blood type can be given to any patient in an emergency or where their blood type isn’t known.
Over the next six weeks 36,000 home testing kits will be sent to people who have recently registered but have not yet made an appointment. Those found to have O negative blood will be offered priority appointments.
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If needed, the search will broaden and kits will be posted to up to 100,000 people registered to give blood, until enough people with O negative blood are identified. The NHS says that, from 29,000 kits sent out last autumn, 715 people who responded were O negative and two in five has either gone on to complete a donation or has an upcoming appointment to donate.
