The NHS needs Londoners to book and keep to their appointments to give blood to help save lives this Christmas
The only two days of the year that blood donations are not collected are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with appointments available on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
In the three weeks over last Christmas and New Year, hospitals needed 1,000 more units of blood than the NHS was able to collect in this period, demonstrating how vulnerable blood stocks can be over the festive season. This did not affect the supply of lifesaving blood to patients.
The capital’s permanent donor centres (the nearest to Croydon being at Tooting) have plenty of appointment availability with a combined 4,046 spare slots over the next fortnight and many more in the coming weeks.
Donors are being asked to make an appointment to donate over the Christmas and New Year period if they don’t already have one, and to keep their appointment if they have already made one. If there is a need to cancel, please give as much notice as possible so someone else can take the slot.
People who have registered as a donor but not yet made an appointment to give blood are also encouraged to take that next step and make their first donation.
Mark Chambers, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We’re encouraging all of our amazing blood donors in London to please book and keep their appointments and help us save lives this Christmas.
“Demand for lifesaving blood doesn’t stop for Christmas. Many patients will need transfusions over the festive period as treatment for a blood condition or cancer, or due to surgery, childbirth, or an accident.
“We’d also love to welcome anyone giving blood for the first time. If you don’t know your blood type you will find out after donating – you might find out you have the type patients especially need.
“It only takes an hour to give blood and each donation can help save or improve up to three lives.”
Blood is needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
Register now and book an appointment at blood.co.uk on the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23.
- Inside Croydon – as seen on TV! – has been delivering local community news since 2010. 3million page views per year in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
- If you want real journalism, actually based in the borough, you should consider paying for it. Please sign up today. Click here for more details
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
