Latest news with #Spherocytosis
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS calls for 200,000 new blood donors as supplies run low
The NHS has warned that it continues to face a "challenging" blood shortage, as it calls for 200,000 new donors to come forward. Concern over blood stocks prompted the health service to issue an "amber alert" last year, meaning supplies were running low enough to have an impact on patient treatment. Supplies have remained low ever since, with officials warning there is a "critical" need for more donors who have O negative blood, which can be given to the majority of patients. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the body that oversees England's blood donation system, said the number of regular donors needs to rise from around 800,000 to more than one million to maintain a safe and reliable supply. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: "Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy - you'd truly be one in a million." There is a pressing need to avoid a "red alert", which would mean demand far exceeds capacity, threatening public safety, NHSBT added. The body's chief medical officer said such an alert could see patients waiting longer for treatment. Dr Gail Miflin told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It can mean, if you're not urgently needing blood, that you may be delayed or have an operation delayed. "But if you really need blood you'll still get it." Four-year-old Isaac receives transfusions every 12 weeks, which he calls "Hulk blood" because it makes him feel strong. Born with Spherocytosis, a condition which affects the red blood cells, he regularly becomes severely anaemic. His mother, Jasmin, said the "superhero blood" works like "magic" for Isaac, and that the shortage was worrying. "Everybody lives such busy lives. It isn't always a priority until it's someone you know or it's yourself that needs a transfusion," she told BBC Breakfast. Health Minister Baroness Merron said the NHS was in "urgent need" of more blood donors from all backgrounds. "We are working alongside NHS Blood and Transplant to make donating blood easier than ever before, opening up new donor centres and making appointments available closer to home," she added. NHSBT stressed the need for more black donors in particular, as they are more likely to have specific blood types which can help treat people with sickle cell disease. Just 2% of the population keep the nation's blood stocks afloat by donating regularly, the body said. Donors are defined as regular if they have donated in the last 12 months. The number of people registering as donors rose in 2024, but only 24% of them went on to donate. The appeal comes almost a year after the NHS issued an amber alert for only the second time in its history, last July. It was caused by what the NHS called a "perfect storm" of unfilled appointments at donor centres and increased demand following a cyber-attack, which affected services in London. At that time, stocks of O negative stood at just 1.6 days, and 4.3 days for all types of blood. Two thirds of the blood collected by NHSBT is used to treat people who rely on regular blood transfusions, including people with cancer and blood conditions. Those who want to give blood can register and book an appointment online. Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
NHS could issue first ever 'Red Alert' for blood donations as stocks run low
NHS says transfusions for cancer patients and women after childbirth are among those which may be halted if a Red Alert is declared for the first time ever as the service struggles with low stocks A million people need to give blood to avoid a first ever Red Alert as the NHS struggles with dangerously low stocks. NHS Blood and Transplant says it is going through its worst ever shortage and around 200,000 more donors are needed in England to stabilise blood supply. Routine transfusions for cancer patients and women after childbirth which aid recovery are among those which may be halted if a Red Alert is declared. This would mean less than one day's blood stocks are available and must be prioritised for immediately life threatening cases. The NHS aims to have six days' stock at any one time. Currently 785,000 people - or 2% of the population - are keeping the nation's blood stocks afloat. The NHS is asking more people to give blood regularly and tackle the crisis with 'the country's largest volunteering force'. Health Minister Baroness Merron said: 'I am extremely grateful to the many thousands of people who donate regularly – the blood you donate saves people's lives, from mothers in maternity wards to victims of car crashes. However the NHS is in urgent need of more lifesaving blood donors from all backgrounds.' It comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. One donation can save up to three lives. The NHS remains in its longest ever Amber Alert for low blood stocks which was declared last July. Red Alert which would mean demand far exceeds capacity, threatening public safety and causing widespread surgery postponements at hospitals nationwide. The shortages are due in part to changing habits as more people work from home since the Covid-19 pandemic. Most available donation slots are at larger town and city centres. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: 'There are many thousands of people who donate regularly and help us keep patients alive. You keep the NHS going and save and transform thousands of lives a year. Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy – you'd truly be one in a million." Isaac and his 'Hulk blood' The NHS is calling for a million donor superheroes to start giving blood to help keep people like Hulk fan Isaac Balmer alive. Isaac, aged four, needs his regular supply of 'Hulk blood' every 12 weeks to keep him strong and healthy. The youngster from Hull was born with Hereditary Spherocytosis, which is a genetic blood condition which causes fragile red blood cells to break down faster than normal leading to severe anaemia and other complications. Mum Jasmin Suggit said: "During his transfusions, he refers to donor blood as 'Hulk blood' and imagines himself becoming stronger and healthier. She said: 'Isaac's haemoglobin levels fluctuate and when they drop significantly, he becomes lethargic and jaundiced. But when he receives his transfusion you see the colour return to his cheeks and his energy levels soar before our eyes. It is incredible. But this wouldn't be possible without the real life, everyday superheroes who keep Isaac and others like him alive, thanks to their regular blood donations.' Two thirds of all the blood currently collected by the NHS is used to treat patients who rely on blood transfusions, including cancer and life-long blood conditions. Isaac receives transfusions every three months at Hull Royal Infirmary where mum Jasmin works in the newborn screening team. Jasmin said: "Until you're one of those who need blood yourself or know someone who does, it may not always be a priority. But Isaac's journey has put things into perspective and his journey has inspired me to become a blood donor myself. It's a small act that can make a big difference in someone's life." There are currently between two and three days' of blood stocks available to the NHS but rates of donations have been falling. There are 55,000 unfilled appointment slots in the next six weeks. The 'active donor base' - which refers to donors who have given blood in the last 12 months - stood at 785,000 at last count in April. This is down from 800,000 before the pandemic in 2020. The NHS needs over 5,000 blood donations every day - or around 1.8 million a year in England. This requires around one million donors who regularly donate to help maintain a reliable blood supply. NHSBT's blood director Gerry Gogarty said: 'Blood stocks are critically low and there's a pressing need to avoid a Red Alert. We can do this if we fill the available appointment slots – particularly in town and city centres. That could have a severe impact on the NHS with non-urgent services potentially being paused to focus on the most critical needs.' There is a critical need for O negative donors – the universal blood type compatible with anyone and used in emergencies. Just 8% of the population have O negative blood but it accounts for 15% of the blood used by hospitals and first responders. There is also an increasing need for donors of Black heritage as around 50% have a blood subtype called Ro, which is used primarily to treat people with sickle cell disease. This is the country's fastest growing genetic blood disorder and patients require regular transfusions to prevent agonising and life threatening blockages. Last year England saw an increased wave of blood donation registrations – including the largest ever increase in registrations from Black heritage communities. However only one in four have gone on to donate, with a quarter of a million people who signed up yet to roll up their sleeves to make a lifesaving donation. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS Co-National Medical Director, said: 'Regular blood donors provide a lifeline for patients across the NHS, and I'd like to thank them for their incredible generosity. Donating blood is a powerful way you can make a meaningful difference to people's lives, so I'd encourage anyone considering becoming a donor to please come forward to help stabilise blood stocks as we near a critical low – you could help save someone's life.' What would a Red Alert mean? The Red Alert has never before been used but is designed to help the NHS save and improve as many lives as possible. Routine procedures which require blood will be postponed so stocks are preserved for patients with life threatening haemorrhages, emergency operations such as heart surgery which cannot be delayed for 24 hours and patients who need a lifesaving transfusion due to illness. NHS Blood and Transplant will declare a Red Alert for blood stocks if there is a severe shortage of red cells. There are two levels of Red alert, dependent on the number of days of stock available. 'Red B' is between 0.5 and 1.0 days' supply of stock; 'Red A' is less than 0.5 days' supply of stock. The appeal comes just before the one year anniversary of the Amber Alert being in place across England and at the start of National Blood Week. NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar added: "Please book an appointment today, experience how good it feels to save lives, and come and do it again in a few months.'
