A new initiative launched to tackle the ongoing blood shortage in England is encouraging companies to give employees dedicated time off to donate during their working day.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has made the appeal after issuing an Amber Alert in July, which remains in place, with more O negative and Black heritage donors urgently needed.
A new survey of more than 3,000 blood donors shows 43 per cent would be more likely to donate blood if given time off to do so by their employer. This rises to 65 per cent for those aged between 25 and 44.
Alton Towers Resort has been named as one of the leading organisations to have pledged ‘donate breaks’ for staff.
The initiative was formally launched at the theme park when an NHSBT team registered and tested the blood types of staff and visitors.
NHSBT Chief Executive Dr Jo Farrar said: “Thank you to these leading businesses who have signed up to help the NHS. Their commitment sets a powerful example of how businesses can play a crucial role in supporting public health and fostering a culture of giving within their organisations.
“We have an urgent need this autumn and winter to find more O negative and Black heritage donors to stop national blood stocks falling.
“If you know you are O negative or Ro blood type please book an appointment. If you’ve never given blood before, please book in to one of our donor centres this autumn to see if you’re one of these special types.
“Giving blood is quick and easy and should take less than an hour of your time.”
A severe shortage of O negative blood was triggered by a cyber-attack earlier this year, which impacted London hospitals.
It meant major London hospitals couldn’t cross match blood so they could only use O negative, which is used in emergencies and can be safely given to any patient when their blood type is not known.
The system was not restored until the end of September so the impact on blood stocks has been long lasting and threatens to cause further shortages this winter unless more O negative and Black heritage donors are found.
More donors of Black heritage are particularly needed because a sub-type known as “Ro” is increasingly needed to treat people with sickle cell.
Currently less than two per cent of blood donors have Ro blood, but around 55 per cent of people of Black Caribbean and Black African heritage have the blood type.
The NHS currently only has enough donors to supply half the amount of blood hospitals need to treat sickle cell. The rest needs to be substituted with O negative.
Click here for more information on how to get involved in the initiative, or here to register or book an appointment to give blood. Alternatively, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.
- Anyone with an employer which already gives time off to donate, is encouraged to share their story and donation photos, with @GiveBloodNHS and #DonateBreaks.
