Blood donors praised in hunt for new stocks

Kind-hearted Blackpudlians have been praised by health bosses after responding to a plea for more blood donors,

NHS Blood and Transplant’s ‘Missing Type’ campaign was launched during National Blood Week last week to encourage those with blood types A, O and B in particular to come forward and donate with concerns growing over stocks.

In Blackpool, 72 people registered as a blood donor during the campaign - compared with just 30 last year.

Jon Latham, NHS Blood and Transplant’s Assistant Director for Donor Services and Marketing, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everybody in Blackpool who responded to our ‘Missing Type’ campaign by either helping to spread the word or by signing up to donate.

“We are thrilled that more than 30,000 people across England and North Wales committed to save lives by registering as a blood donor.

“We hope that the thousands of people who registered will now go on to book an appointment and become regular donors and that the organisations who backed the campaign will continue to help us promote blood donation.

“Current stock levels are good so we don’t need new donors to walk in to donate now.

“If there aren’t any immediate appointments in the area in the next few weeks – don’t worry, book an appointment for the future.

“We plan our sessions in line with the blood patients need.

If you recently signed up we look forward to welcoming you for your first donation.

“We obviously hope you will go on to become regular donors and help us meet patient needs for years to come.

“While we have captured the nation’s imagination with ‘Missing Type’ the job is far from done.

“In order to ensure we have enough new donors coming forward this year to replace those who can no longer donate and to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups to meet patient needs now and in the future, we need new people to register every day.

“Giving blood is easy, it doesn’t take long to do and you can help save or improve up to three lives each time you donate.”

Visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23