Media Release
For immediate release
2 January 2015
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MR00066/14
Make saving lives your resolution in 2015
The New Year is traditionally a time when resolutions are made. People vow
to eat better, exercise more and try to become the best version of themselves.
This year, instead of booking a new gym class like many others, why not book
a blood donation appointment instead?
NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people around the country to consider
spending an hour of their time to donate blood in the New Year. With each
blood donation potentially saving or improving up to three lives, this good
deed can help a lot more people than your average resolution.
Blood donation sessions take place throughout the Lancashire region on a
daily basis, with a permanent donor centre being based within the Royal
Lancaster Infirmary and open from Monday to Friday every week.
All details of donation sessions in the area, and the opening times of the
donor centre, are always available online at www.blood.co.uk or by calling
0300 123 23 23.
Amanda Eccles, Senior Marketing Coordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant
said:
“The beginning of the year is a great time to make changes to your lifestyle.
And it is the perfect time to give blood. If knowing that your blood is helping to
save sick and injured people isn’t satisfaction enough, we can also guarantee
donors a warm welcome, a refreshing drink and a biscuit when they donate.
This year, make a resolution you will want to keep and help us save lives at
the same time.
“Every blood donation is vital, but NHS Blood and Transplant particularly
needs to ensure supplies of the universal blood group O Rh Negative, which
is often in short supply as demand is so great. We also need to ensure
supplies of the rarer blood groups A Rh Negative, B Rh Negative and AB Rh
Negative as these are also vulnerable to shortfall.”
To book an appointment to donate visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123
2323 to find your nearest session.
It is also easy to book through mobile apps for Windows, Android and Apple
devices. To download the app, search 'NHSGiveBlood' in the app store.
Ends

For further information about NHS Blood and Transplant contact the press
office on 01923 367600 or via pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

For out of hours enquiries please call: 0117 969 2444
Notes to editors

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales
Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable,
efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England
and North Wales. It is also the organ donor organisation for the UK and
is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs

Donors can search for sessions, change their contact details, book
appointments and change/cancel their appointments in real time on
www.blood.co.uk

There are apps available for Android, Windows and Apple Smartphone
and tablet devices which enable donors to search for sessions based
on your location, book and manage appointments.

NHSBT’s donor line - 0300 123 23 23 - is available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week with all calls charged at the standard local rate,
even from mobile phones

NHSBT collects 1.8 million units of blood each year from over 23,000
blood donation sessions in more than 3,000 venues

Only four per cent of the eligible population are active blood donors

A unit of blood is measured as 470mls (or just under a pint)

There are four main blood groups – O, A, B and AB. A regular supply
of all blood groups is vital – red cells last 35 days and platelets only 7
days.

Maintaining a regular supply of group O Rh Negative is particularly
important to respond to patient need.

Female whole blood donors can give blood every 16 weeks, while male
blood donors can donate every 12 weeks. Platelets can be donated
every 2 weeks.