Latest news with #SylviaArmstrong-Fisher
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.'
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
