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STV News
2 days ago
- Health
- STV News
More young blood donors urged to come forward in bid to boost stocks
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) is calling for more blood donors to come forward as new figures show the number of active donors is 10% below desired levels. The service is particularly keen to attract new donors aged 17 to 24, the smallest group currently contributing. While Scotland's blood supplies remain safe thanks to nearly 95,000 active donors, SNBTS aims to increase this number to 105,000. The appeal comes during Blood Donor Week (June 9–15), leading up to World Blood Donor Day on June 14, 2025, highlighting the life-saving impact of donations. Each donation has the potential to save or improve the lives of up to three people. One such life saved is baby Ailsa Afrin, who will celebrate her first birthday shortly after World Blood Donor Day. Her mum, 30-year-old Eilidh from Perth, shared the harrowing experience of Ailsa's emergency delivery last year at 34 weeks following concerns over reduced fetal movement. Ailsa required two blood transfusions after suffering a rare fetal-maternal hemorrhage, where the baby loses blood to the mother's bloodstream via the placenta. Eilidh said: 'It was an absolutely terrifying experience, and when Ailsa was born, she had to be resuscitated. 'She was pale and floppy, so she was given a blood transfusion. Then she received a second one in the NICU that thankfully stabilised her. 'The blood Ailsa received saved her life and my daughter is now a happy, healthy, thriving 11-month-old. 'We can't wait for her first birthday and I'd like to thank blood donors for making this possible.' SNS Group Ailsa Afrin with parents Eilidh and Neil Debbie McNaughton, associate director of Donor Services, said: 'For baby Ailsa and others like her who rely on blood transfusions, it is essential that there is an increase in the number of blood donors. 'These figures are concerning, as in line with other UK and global blood services, our donor base has not fully recovered since the pandemic. We have managed to maintain blood stock levels by regular donors giving blood more often. 'Demographically, 55% of Scotland's active donor base are now aged 45 or over. Most of our active donors now fall into the age bracket of 55-64. Conversely, donors aged 17-24 now represent the smallest group of active donors in Scotland. 'Whilst we understand younger people are busy, we are offering sessions in schools and universities across Scotland and want to remind young people that giving blood regularly is a really important thing to do. '51% of active donors only give once per year. We have lots of additional donating sessions in communities, workplaces, schools and universities across Scotland, and you can donate three times per year, so I'd like to encourage as many people as possible to give more often.' To help boost donations, SNBTS is expanding sessions across communities, workplaces, schools, and universities. As part of Blood Donor Week celebrations, a special event will take place at Glasgow Donor Centre on World Blood Donor Day, where patients who have benefited from blood transfusions will present donors with chocolates, symbolising hope and gratitude. The SNBTS encourages all eligible Scots to consider donating blood and help save lives. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Press and Journal
15-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Blood bank visits Orkney for first time in 15 years, and donors couldn't wait to help save a life
First-time donors packed the Blood Bank's first visit to Orkney in more than 15 years. Across three days this week, staff from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) have been running donor sessions in Kirkwall's Pickaquoy Centre. These are being held as pilot programme which will be reviewed in the coming months. If all goes well, Orkney could be included in future annual collection programmes across the north after being left off for more than a decade. When the visit had been announced, the Blood Bank hoped to see 75 donors per day. Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher, the organisation's Head of Territory Northern Arch, explained they'd already exceeded that with 157 attendees in the first two days. They'd been expecting a further 88 throughout Wednesday's session. With last blood donor session in Orkney being in 2009, perhaps it should not be a surprise that just over 53% of the locals they've seen are new donors. While this means extra time on admin for the team, Dr Armstrong-Fisher said getting new donors is important for the service as it means maintaining a much-needed healthy stock of people willing to donate. Dr Armstrong-Fisher said: 'It's been very busy but we've had a really tremendous response from the people of Orkney. 'We've had an enormous turnout from new donors. 'If everything's going smoothly, it would take one hour for someone to give blood. 'But we have so many first-time donors that they're not used to the process and there's a lot of questions to go through. 'We also have to make sure every donor has the very best experience.' So why haven't there been session in Orkney for so long? Dr Armstrong-Fisher said: 'In 2009, due to challenges with transporting blood back from Orkney, and other issues such as staffing, we undertook a full review of Orkney collection. 'As a result of this review, which identified significant challenges with logistics and staffing, Orkney collection was ceased at that time. 'We've been pleased to return as part of a pilot. 'We've asking both donors and staff for feedback on their experience. She also explained that the logistics of carrying out the donation session on an island can 'make things a little twitchy.' Each day, a vehicle holding the blood in controlled storage had to leave the Pickaquoy centre at about 3.15pm to catch the afternoon ferry from Stromness to the Scottish mainland. It then makes its way down to wherever a team from Inverness are working that day, which has meant a trip to Elgin some days. This has to be done within 24 hours, so any delay to the ferries could knock back the order of things. After that, the blood then travels further to Edinburgh and the Jack Copland Centre. Orcadians have certainly stepped up to use the visiting service with all slots completely filled within four days of being announced. Speaking to two of the donors, they said they wanted to do what they can. Waiting give blood, Stephanie Scollie, from Kirkwal,l said: 'It's something I've always wanted to do just to see if I can help somebody. 'My sister had a blood transfusion during her pregnancy. So it was an easy decision to come along and do it. Tanya Digby was in the process of giving blood. She said: 'I've done it because I would hate to think of an operation being cancelled for anyone because there's a shortage of blood. 'It's the one thing I can do to help.'
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Two Glasgow firefighters help save lives on their days off
John Allan and Andrew Kerr, from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), are frequent blood donors who have now switched to giving platelets. Platelets can support people who are receiving treatment for blood cancer, as well as premature babies who require platelet transfusion in the first few days of life. John Allan, SFRS (Image: Supplied) John, a station commander at the SFRS, said: "The opportunity to donate platelets has given me the opportunity to help people without the inherent risk of entering a burning building or putting myself and my colleagues at risk. "I decided to move over to platelets on the guidance of the staff at the Glasgow Donor Centre. "One of the nurses, Angie, approached me to discuss the benefits of platelet donation." Andrew Kerr, SFRS (Image: Supplied) Andrew, crew commander at the SFRS, has made 36 donations so far. He said: "With my shift plan and schedule, it's really easy for me to plan how often I can donate. "I can do 13 a year. "Platelets takes a little bit longer than blood donation, but you're always really well looked after. "I get my apple juice and my KitKat and I'm ready to go." The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) is now looking for more people like John and Andrew to help with platelet donation. (Image: Supplied) Fiona Shields, spokesperson for SNBTS, said: "This year we'd love to welcome an additional 300 platelet donors in Scotland overall, 200 of whom we need in Glasgow. "We are incredibly grateful to all our Scottish Fire and Rescue Service blood, platelet, and plasma donors who give up their time to support the patients of Scotland. "If you are an O or A group donor and can give roughly every four weeks in one of our donor centres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, or Glasgow, this might be the right fit for you. "Like John, you may find out you are a high-spec donor – meaning your HLA and HPA type matches with patients who require extra support. "These are often newborn babies. "During 2025, Scotland also needs to welcome 1,000 new plasma donors. "Plasma is used for critically ill patients, including burns victims, those who have lost large volumes of blood, or with weak immune systems. "You can give plasma at our donor centres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Inverness. 'If you've never given blood or haven't for a while you can sign up at "And if you've been inspired by Andrew and John to give platelets fill in our online form to register your interest and one of the team will be in touch to book you in for a test and assessment." Anyone interested in donating can check their eligibility and book an appointment through Appointments can also be made by contacting or calling 0345 90 90 999 from Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.
The Courier
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Be Our Blood campaign to find donors in Tayside, Fife, Stirling
Every donation of blood can save three lives. That's a powerful statistic. It's why The Courier is launching the Be Our Blood campaign alongside The Scottish Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) to encourage more people in our area to register. At least 500 names are needed. Below, Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher, head of donor services for Dundee, covering Tayside, Fife and Stirlingshire, explains the importance of blood donation in our community. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) are delighted to be working with The Courier to encourage more people in Tayside, Fife and Stirling to give blood. Blood has the power to help so many people in so many ways. Every time you give blood you can help to save or improve the lives of three patients in Scotland. Many people know about the need for blood and blood donors, but as less than 3% of the eligible Scottish population give blood, we'd like to encourage more people to get involved. During the next year the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) Dundee team needs to welcome 18,587 donors, this equates to 357 donors per week. Our Dundee team collect blood five days a week across the north east of Scotland. The team currently visit Aberfeldy, Arbroath, Brechin, Crieff, Carnoustie, Dunblane, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose, Perth, St Monans, Strathmiglo, St Andrews and Wellbank two or three time a year, while our Donor Centre is currently open three days a week. We currently have 9,693 active donors, but we need more. During this coming year, we would like to encourage another 500 people to commit and sign up to give blood in this area. You must leave a minimum of 12 weeks between each blood donation this means that each person can give up to three times per year. We need people like you to come forward and help support Scotland's patients. Hospitals use 37% of the blood we supply to treat patients with cancer and blood diseases, 27% is used in surgical procedures, 2% is used to treat, mothers, babies and young children and 10% is used to treat critically ill patients. Blood has a shelf life of 35 days, and only seven days for platelet products so must be constantly replenished. We aim to retain a healthy six day stock of the eight major blood groups at any time. Help us show patients in Scotland that they are not fighting alone. To register as a blood donor or to find out where your nearest donation session is visit or call 0345 90 90 999. You can also contact us by emailing
