Rise in sickle cell disease prompts NHS call for more Black blood donors

Jourdan Dunn gives blood in Brixton, south London. The model’s son, Riley, is a sickle cell patient who relies on transfusions. Photograph: Ian West/PA

Demand for blood needed to treat rare disorders such as sickle cell has soared by more than 130% in 10 years, forcing the NHS to ask for more donors to come forward.

Requests for haemoglobin S (HbS)-negative blood, the type most used in blood transfusions for sickle cell anaemia patients, stood at 82,181 units in 2015. But last year, more than 191,000 units were needed, a 132% increase.