Donor plea to prevent shortage of blood
DONORS in Halton are being urged to give blood before Christmas to ensure that hospitals can continue to treat patients over the festive season.
NHS Blood And Transplant wants Runcorn and Widnes blood donors to make and keep appointments.
The organisation has revealed that about a third of appointments remain unbooked in December and that about 24,000 opportunities to give blood are also missed over the festive period.
A spokeswoman said that many children and adults will need transfusions over Christmas for treatments such as for a blood condition, cancer or due to surgery, childbirth or an accident.
All blood groups are being asked to make and keep their lifesaving appointment in the run up to and over Christmas and the spokeswoman said that vulnerable groups such as O negative, B negative and A negative platelets were particularly important.
NHS Blood And Transplant’s director of blood donation, Mike Stredder, said: “We need our amazing donors more than ever at this time of year.
“If you make and keep ● an appointment this December you will be saving and improving lives over the festive season – can you think of a better gift to give?
“Please make a date to donate now. If you cannot make your appointment to give blood, please let us know as soon as possible.”
Those in the borough who are unable to make an appointment are being advised to let NHS Blood And Transplant know, with seven days notice if possible, so another blood donor can be booked in.
The spokeswoman said that red blood cells only have a shelf life of 35 days, and platelets, tiny cells in the blood which enable clotting, only have a shelf life of seven days.
To book an appointment, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk