Donate blood this Easter
THE NHS is calling on existing blood donors and potential new donors in Leicester to help save and improve lives this Easter.
A pop-up donation shop has opened in the Highcross Shopping Centre where people can find out more about giving blood, register as a donor and even find out their likely blood type.
The NHS always needs new donors to replace those who stop donating every year. There is an urgent need for more donors of Black heritage to help sickle cell patients who need ethnically matched blood.
Meanwhile, existing donors in Leicester are being urged to fill empty slots over Easter by booking and sticking to their appointments at the city’s donor centre.
Blood stocks are more likely to drop around public holidays like Easter when people go on holiday or enjoy days out with the family and don’t donate. Making and keeping to their appointment during these coming weeks will help keep blood stocks stable over this bank holiday period.
There are currently 280 spare slots at the city’s donor centre on Guildhall Lane over the next fortnight and many more in the coming weeks.
Right now there is a particular need for donors with O negative blood type used for patients receiving emergency transfusions though all types remain in demand.
Mark Chambers, Director of Donor Experience at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We currently have enough blood to meet demand but stocks are vulnerable.
“As we enter the Easter period it is vital that we continue to collect enough blood to meet hospital demand.”
The six-day pop-up shop will be open every day until Friday from 10.30am-6.30pm and on Saturday from 9am-4pm. Information about organ donation will also be available. There is a play zone for children and blood donation mascot Billy Blood Drop will be on hand.
Blood is needed to treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
blood.co.uk on the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23.