An urgent appeal for the people of Leicester to donate blood has been made. Health bosses are calling on people to give blood where they can as part of a life-saving New Year’s resolution.
The appeal has been launched after new statistics showed the demand for blood for emergency use during the Christmas break outstripped supply. This led hospitals in England being placed on Amber alert for low blood stocks.
Leicester Donor Centre, in the city centre’s Guildhall Lane, is also struggling to meet demand. It has approximately 1,500 appointment slots to fill over the next six weeks to help alleviate the shortage of stocks locally.
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Leicester Blood Donor Centre.
NHS bosses have turned to the public for help. Dr Jo Farrar, chief executive at NHS Blood and Transplant nationally, said: “New Year is a time when lots of people make resolutions. Make giving blood your resolution for 2025 and you will save up to three lives every time you donate.
“The NHS needs life-saving blood all year round, so we are asking people to help us maintain the lifesaving supply of blood to hospitals this year by booking an appointment now. Between now and the middle of January we still have almost 11,000 appointments that we need to fill. Giving blood is quick and easy – the whole process takes just one hour. Book an appointment today and save lives this year.”
Minister for Patient Safety, Baroness Merron said: “The NHS is in urgent need of blood. Registering to donate is a simple yet powerful way to save lives. We are grateful to everyone who has donated so far, but we know more needs to be done. This New Year, make it your resolution to give blood to help protect and support our NHS over winter.”
The NHS needs blood to help patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery. People with O negative, B negative and Ro blood types are particularly needed in the coming weeks, while there is an ongoing need for more donors of black heritage to help patients with sickle cell.
To book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk. You can also make contact via the GiveBlood app or by calling 0300 123 23 23.
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