Blood donor appeal ahead of Olympics and Jubilee

Date: 29/04/2012. Story submitted by: SuzanneRutter

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More blood donors are needed than ever before to help the health service prepare for this summer’s Olympic Games and Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) says stocks need to be 30 per cent higher than normal to cope with the demand created by an anticipated 1.2 million extra people visiting the UK for Olympic and royal events.
Research shows that regular donors miss appointments during public holidays and large country-wide celebrations.
Joanne Steel, NHS Blood and Transplant Donor Relations Co-ordinator for Sheffield, said: “This year we have a unique situation and need existing and new donors from Sheffield to help counterbalance the inevitable dip in donations as people celebrate a memorable summer for the whole country. We need to adjust the mix of stocks so we are well prepared.”
Donors of all blood groups are needed to help build stocks but there are particularly high national targets for O+, O- and B- type blood groups.
Blood donations are a vital resource to help treat health conditions including cancer and long term illnesses, people involved in accidents and in maternity care. Hospitals across England and North Wales need 7,000 units of blood every day and each unit saves or improves the lives of three patients.
Anyone wanting to donate for the first time should be aged between 17 and 65, weighing at least 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health.
If you’ve donated before, you can start again up to your 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.
For more information, or to book an appointment, call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23.
The Sheffield Donor Centre at Longley Lane is open from 10.15am to 2pm and 3pm to 5.30pm on Monday, 11.15am to 2pm and 3pm to 6.30pm on Tuesday, 11.30am to 2pm and 3pm to 6.30pm on Wednesday, 10.15am to 2pm and 3pm to 5.30pm on Thursday and 8.30am to 12.45pm and 1.45pm to 3.45pm on Friday.

Additional info

Address: Longley Lane Sheffield S5 7JN

Tags: NHS Blood & Transplant

Web link: http://www.blood.co.uk