Urgent call for Twickenham blood donors to fill empty appointments to help NHS through critical winter period

Drop in town centre footfall means only three in 10* slots at Twickenham Donor Centre are currently booked

The NHS is issuing an urgent plea to blood donors in Twickenham to build strong blood stocks this winter to help hospitals through a new wave of covid-19 as well as seasonal pressures.

Currently blood stocks are good. But as we enter what could be a very challenging winter period, we need more new and loyal regular donors more than ever to help us to keep hospitals supplied with lifesaving blood.

Hospitals need blood for routine operations, saving accident victims and treating patients with serious illnesses like cancer. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.

Giving blood is exempt from covid-19 travel restrictions, even during a full lockdown, and Twickenham Donor Centre remains open with appointments operating as normal.

• Twickenham has a donor centre at Floor 8, Regal House, 70 London Road. Twickenham. TW1 3QS.
• Book appointments and check the latest guidance on Covid-19 and giving blood by calling 0300 123 23 23, downloading the NHS Give Blood app, or visiting the website click here.

• NHS Blood and Transplant needs to collect 1.4 million units of blood each year to meet the needs of patients across England; We need 135,000 new blood donors each year to replace those who stop donating and to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups to match patient needs in the future
• There is an urgent need for donors with Ro blood. Only 2% of our donors have Ro type blood. Ro is often used to save people with the rare blood disorder, sickle cell disease. Ro blood is ten times more common in black people than in white people.
• We urgently need more black donors as they are more likely to have the blood type needed to treat the increasing number of patients suffering from sickle cell disease.

Promote Blood donation in areas of hospitals open to the Public.

• Allow us to display a banner inside your premises and have a couple of leaflets on site to educate people on the significance of donating blood

For additional information please contact the NHSBT press office on 01923 367600 or email pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

We rely on your support, donate blood – save lives!