Giving Blood

Below is a list of the most recent national press releases relating to the National Blood Service.

For Press contacts and local press releases click here.

Date Details

18 Jul 2011 NHSBT sees surge in blood donors as almost 100,000 make a 'date to donate'
One month on from the first ever National Blood Week (13 -19 June), NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) today released new figures showing that between 13–26 June almost 100,000 people across England and North Wales pledged to give blood, including more than 20,000 first time donors.

14 Jun 2011 New NHSBT Research reveals 20% drop in young donors in the last decade
New data from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) today reveals an alarming generation gap amongst regular blood donors and calls for 10,000 people to 'make a date to donate.' Only 14% of regular donors are aged under thirty, more than two thirds of regular donors are over the age of forty, and 200,000 donors drop off the register each year. NHSBT is today issuing a challenge to all potential donors to give blood regularly, to help save or improve the lives of thousands of people who need donated b

14 Jun 2011 Black African & Caribbean are under represented when it comes to Donating Blood
Data by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) today reveals that only 0.8 percent of blood donated in England and North Wales comes from black African and Caribbean. During National Blood Week (13th – 19th June), NHSBT is urging the community to step forward and 'make a date to donate' blood in the coming weeks.

14 Jun 2011 South Asians are under represented when it comes to Donating Blood
Data today from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) reveals that only 1.4 percent of blood donated in England and North Wales comes from south Asians. During National Blood Week (13th – 19th June), NHSBT is urging the community to step forward and 'make a date to donate' blood in the coming weeks.

9 May 2011 Ambitious plans to save more lives through Blood and Organ Donation
Plans to save and improve more lives through blood, organ, stem cell and tissue donation were unveiled today (9 May) with the publication of NHS Blood and Transplant's (NHSBT) strategic plan for 2011-14. The plan sets out NHSBT's ambition to maintain the price of blood at the same rate until 2014 – releasing new savings to hospitals of £10m per year to reinvest in frontline patient care.

1 Apr 2011 Transfer of testing services from Newcastle and Sheffield to Manchester
The NHS Blood and Transplant Board yesterday accepted the business case outlining the viability of consolidating testing activity into Manchester from Sheffield and Newcastle. This change will impact approximately 40 existing posts - 24 in Sheffield and 16 in Newcastle. It would likely create up to an additional 19 posts in Manchester.

1 Apr 2011 A special gift to celebrate the Royal Wedding
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is asking blood donors to make a special effort to keep their appointments over the four-day Easter break closely followed by the Royal Wedding and May bank holiday weekend.

22 Mar 2011 European Blood experts meet in Bristol
Blood service experts from 28 European countries will gather at the world's largest blood manufacturing centre at Filton, Bristol this week (24 and 25 March) for the 28th Board meeting of the European Blood Alliance.

Blood donation

A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for
transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation.
In the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who give blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion. Many donors donate as an act of charity, but some are paid and in some cases there are incentives other than money such as paid time off from work. A donor can also have blood drawn for their own future use. Donating is relatively safe, but some donors have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint.
Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe to use. The screening includes testing for diseases that can be transmitted by a blood transfusion, including HIV and viral hepatitis. The donor is also asked about medical history and given a short physical examination to make sure that the donation is not hazardous to his or her health. How often a donor can give varies from days to months based on what he or she donates and the laws of the country where the donation takes place. For example, in the United States donors must wait 8 weeks (56 days) between whole blood donations but only three days between plateletpheresis donations.[1]
The amount of blood drawn and the methods vary. The collection can be done manually or with automated equipment that only takes specific portions of the blood. Most of the components of blood used for transfusions have a short shelf life, and maintaining a constant supply is a persistent problem