Blood donors in Luton are urged to help patient care and make and keep an appointment over the festive period, as NHS Blood and Transplant reveals three in five appointments at the local Donor Centre are unfilled between Christmas and New Year. There is an ongoing urgent need for donors in Luton to donate blood.
The plea comes as Luton is set to enter Tier 3 lockdown. Giving blood is classed as essential travel and the Donor Centre will stay open as normal.
NHS Blood and Transplant is urging donors to make an appointment to donate over Christmas and New Year if they don’t already have one. They’re also asking people to keep their appointment if they’ve made one, to help build blood stocks ahead of a potentially challenging winter period.
The only two days of the year that blood donations are not collected is Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with appointments available on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
An extra 1,500 units of blood is currently needed every week and extra appointments have been added across the country to help meet this need. As well as existing donors, in Luton there is a need for more than 700 people who have registered to give blood to make their first appointment this winter.
Emma Martin, Donor Centre Manager in Luton said: ““I want to say a huge thanks to our local team, as well as our loyal and returning donors. They’re a great team and have done brilliantly under such difficult circumstances, going above and beyond to keep blood, platelets and plasma collection going. We also want to thank those who continue to give blood here in Luton. As well as returning, we hope to welcome new donors over the festive period too to help fill the many unfilled appointments between Christmas and New Year.”
This winter, NHS Blood and Transplant needs donors who are fit and healthy to help it keep blood stocks strong to support hospitals through a second wave of covid-19 as well as seasonal pressures. At this time of year however, colds, flu and severe weather can make it hard for donors to attend, while this winter could be particularly challenging with the extra impact of covid-19 infections.
Jon Latham, Assistant Director of Donor Relationship Services at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We know that giving blood can slip off the to-do lists over Christmas and new year. But we need our loyal donors more than ever right now so we can keep hospitals supplied with lifesaving blood.
“The demand for blood has reached near pre-pandemic levels, yet we have extra winter challenges this year with the added pressure of covid-19. In the summer months there was less demand from hospitals for blood, but this winter could be particularly challenging for us because that is no longer the case, and we now have donors spaced out and fewer beds in use as well as the usual winter pressures like colds, flu and bad weather.
“We need anyone who is fit and healthy and who can donate to please book and make an appointment. Our sessions are open as usual with extra safety measures in place and extra appointments have been added to help us meet these winter demands.”
Demand for lifesaving blood doesn’t stop over Christmas. Many children and adults will still need transfusions over the festive period as treatment for a blood condition or cancer, or due to surgery, childbirth or an accident.
Extra safety measures are in place across all blood donation sessions. Donors are triaged with a temperature check on arrival. Hand gels and hand washing facilities are available, donors are spaced apart and staff are doing extra cleaning. Staff and donors wear face coverings.
Donors are reminded to follow all relevant Government transport guidance when making a journey to give blood.
Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
Book appointments and check the latest guidance on Covid-19 and giving blood by calling 0300 123 23 23, downloading the NHS Give Blood app, or visiting the website blood.co.uk
- Luton Blood Donor Centre, St Georges Square, Bridge Street, Luton
Bedfordshire, LU1 2NF
If you are fit and healthy please make an appointment to donate. If you need to cancel please give at least three days’ notice so the place can be offered to another donor.
Sign up for your daily digest of local Bedfordshire news here:
https://www.bedsbulletin.com/bulletin/sign-up/
