ALMOST 7,500 units of blood have been donated since the opening of the Bradford blood donor centre a year ago.

This means that potentially more than 22,000 lives have been saved or improved.

The new centre opened on May 16 last year, with support from the Bradford Bulls, at the historic Kenburgh House on Manor Row after moving from its Rawson Road site. 

NHS Blood and Transplant invested in the new larger venue because of the potential to increase the number of donors in the city.

More than 2,000 people from Bradford currently give blood at the Donor Centre, but more donors are needed across the city to replace those who can no longer give blood due to illness, travel or pregnancy.

Mike Stredder, Director of Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “Since we relocated last May, we have seen over 1,500 people give blood for the first time at the donor centre in Bradford and we hope to encourage more people in the city to follow suit.

“The city has a high number of people from Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, who often have rare blood groups.

"It’s vitally important that more people from these communities donate to give those who rely on blood transfusions the best match possible. 

“We are very grateful to all those who regularly give up their time to donate blood. Their generosity helps save and improve the lives of patients across the country every day.”

Every blood donation can save or improve up to three lives and each day NHS Blood and Transplant needs nearly 6,000 donors to give blood at sessions across England to meet patient need.

While donors from all blood groups are important, donors who are O negative, the universal blood group, are particularly needed. 

The valuable Ro subtype, which is more prevalent in black people, is also needed. NHS Blood and Transplants says it also needs more black and Asian people to become blood donors to reflect the ethnic diversity of patients.