Summer call to keep giving blood (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Summer call to keep giving blood

8:40am Monday 22nd August 2011 in Health Features By Sally Clifford

Giving blood saves lives.

We all know how important it is, and many of us make a conscious effort to do it, but with the summer holidays in full swing, bringing with it the temptation to jet off to foreign climes, it seems many are forgetting about their pre-booked blood donating sessions.

NHS Blood and Transplant chiefs recently urged donors to keep their appointments after noticing an increase in the number of people failing to turn up for their pre-arranged blood slots.

The service needs to collect 1,041 units of blood every week in Yorkshire to help patients in hospital, but donors who fail to turn up could be taking slots for people who can give blood. Missed appointments can also impact on supplies.

Victoria Hatcher, donor relations co-ordinator, believes the situation has been caused by the summer holidays.

“It may be the holiday situation. You can book 16 weeks in advance and it is often because of that time period you may forget you’ve booked an appointment.”

Cancelling and rescheduling an appointment avoids the service having to struggle to fill the slot or, potentially, miss out on vital supplies.

“If people are missing appointments and we have scheduled them out for four people it can have an effect. We may not collect as much blood as we planned, but that is also why we need new donors,” explains Victoria.

Although stocks are reportedly healthy in Bradford, Victoria says they are constantly seeking new donors.

Patricia Saxton and her 27-year-old daughter Stacy have been giving blood for many years. Patricia started more than 30 years ago when she was in her 20s.

She explains she was working at Peter Black’s at the time in her home town of Keighley when the opportunity came to give blood.

“And I carried on, just having a break when I had my children.”

Patricia has donated more than 50 pints and Stacy, who started donating blood at 17, has donated more than 25 pints.

Stacy followed in her mum’s footsteps and both believe it is vitally important to give blood. “There are people who need it and you can just give it. It doesn’t affect you in any way.

“It’s an easy way to save someone’s life,” says Patricia.

Eight thousand units of blood are needed every day to meet hospital demand. Yorkshire hospitals require more than 3,350 pints of blood a week to satisfy their need.

Last year, the service collected 2.1 million donations from about 1.6 million donors. Although that sounds a lot, it reflects only four per cent of the population, giving two or three times a year.

Currently, less than four per cent of the eligible population give blood and less than one per cent of those are from the South Asian community, highlighting the demand for more new donors to come forward, especially those from the South Asian community in Bradford.

Blood comes in four main types – O, A, B and AB. Group O is the most common, which means it is in high demand.

Blood can also be subdivided into its main components – red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma. Unfortunately, red cells only have a shelf life of 35 days, while platelets shelf life is even less – only five days.

Almost anyone between the ages of 17 and 65 can become a new blood donor. And those who are regular donors can continue to donate as long as they are in good health.

The service is currently appealing for people who are blood group B- and O- to come forward, book and keep their appointments.

Anyone aged 17 and over and weighing more than 50kg and in general good health can become a donor.

New and existing donors can get more information and make an appointment to give blood by visiting blood.co.uk/vip, or calling 0300 1232323.