Hospitals make desperate plea for blood donors
HOT WEATHER AND ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP RUN HAVE HIT DONATIONS
MANCHESTER is running low on supplies of blood – because of the World Cup and the recent heatwave.
People with O negative blood are asked to donate urgently.
NHS bosses say the number of donors plummets when the weather is nice, or when a major sporting event takes place.
A combination of the England’s incredible run in Russia and the region’s heatwave has led to stocks of O negative blood running dangerously low.
It has cost the NHS around 2,000 blood donations in the past two weeks. O negative is particularly useful, as it can be given to anyone, regardless of their blood type.
The NHS Blood and Transplant service is on the brink of having only three days of supply.
Mike Stredder, director of blood donation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The long spell of sunshine has been great in many ways but some people have chosen to stay in the sun instead of giving blood, and some people haven’t been hydrated enough to donate safely.
“England’s excellent World Cup has also meant football fans are spending their time enjoying the games rather than donating blood. “However, hospital patients in Manchester urgently need blood every day of the year, whatever the weather. “Nationally, we aim to have six days of worth of blood stocks but today we only have three days of O negative blood. “O negative is especially important because it is the universal donor group which can be given to almost anyone Mike Stredder, blood donation director in emergencies. We need donors with other blood groups to keep their appointments as usual but this urgent appeal is specific to O negative.
“If you are O negative and you can give blood, please donate now.
“We have 110 appointments available at Manchester Plymouth Grove donor centre and 85 appointments available at Manchester Norfolk House donor centre over the next few days. If you are an existing donor with O negative blood and you can’t see a convenient appointment time, you can walk in and donate without needing to make an appointment.
“Or you can call 0300 123 2323, and we will book an appointment for you.”
Blood donor centres are on Norfolk House on Brown Street and at Plymouth Grove. Contact 0300 123 23 23 or visit blood.co.uk.