NHS in England calls for one million people to donate blood to secure the nation’s blood supply

This National Blood Week (9 to 15 June) the NHS is calling on 1 million people in England to give blood - and help create the country's largest volunteering force - to stabilise the nation's blood supply.

The call comes after NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) analysis revealed an annual shortfall of over 200,000 donors needed to meet growing demand.

Just two per cent of the population is keeping the nation's blood stocks afloat, so the NHS is asking more people to sign up to give blood and help create the country's largest volunteering force.

More than 5,000 donations are needed every day – around 1.8 million donations a year - with more than one million active donors required to help maintain a safe and reliable blood supply.

The critical need for donors

In July 2024, NHSBT issued an Amber alert due to a severe shortage of O negative blood triggered by the cyber-attack on London hospitals. Blood stocks have remained low and following several bank holidays in quick succession, there is now a pressing need to avoid a Red Alert which would mean demand far exceeds capacity, threatening public safety. This can be avoided if more donors come forward to fill the available appointment slots – particularly in the town and city centre donor centres.

Over the past year, England has seen an increased wave of blood donation registrations – including the largest ever increase in registrations from Black heritage communities.

However, only 1 in 4 (24 per cent) have gone on to donate, with a quarter of a million people who signed up to give blood yet to roll up their sleeves to make a lifesaving donation.

Right now, there is a critical need for O negative donors – the universal blood type needed for emergencies – and for more donors of Black heritage, who are significantly more likely to have the specific blood types needed to treat sickle cell disease. Just 8 per cent of the population have O negative blood but it accounts for 15 per cent of the blood used by hospitals and first responders. Around 50 per cent of people from Black Caribbean and Black African heritage have a blood subtype called Ro, which is used primarily to treat people with sickle cell disease, the country's fastest growing genetic blood disorder.

The NHS urgently needs to find more O negative and Ro donors. The public are being urged to come and give blood, find out if they have the high-demand blood types and help save more lives.

Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, Dr Jo Farrar, has described blood supplies over the past year as 'challenging', and today thanks the incredible 2 per cent of the population who keep the nation's blood flowing - while urging others to be 'one in a million' and become a regular blood donor.

Dr Farrar said:

"There are many thousands of people who donate regularly and help us keep patients alive. Thank you. You are amazing. 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.

"Please book an appointment today, experience how good it feels to save lives, and come and do it again in a few months."

Two thirds of all the blood currently collected is used to treat patients who rely on blood transfusions, including cancer and life-long blood conditions.

Isaac's story

One of those reliant on regular transfusions is 4-year-old Isaac from Hull.

Isaac in a hospital bed, receiving a blood transfusion Isaac was born with Hereditary Spherocytosis, a genetic blood condition which causes fragile red blood cells to break down faster than normal, leading to severe anaemia and other complications. To stay healthy, Isaac must receive regular blood transfusions every 12 weeks at the local hospital, where his mum, Jasmin, also works.

Mum, Jasmin explains:

"It's been a rollercoaster; 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."

Despite his condition, Isaac shows remarkable courage. He enjoys attending nursery, playing with friends and dressing up as his favourite superheroes, and says he is like the superhero Hulk, gaining strength with each transfusion.

Jasmin adds: "During his transfusions, he refers to donor blood as ‘Hulk blood' and imagines himself becoming stronger and healthier. 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.

"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. Isaac's 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."

Statements

Statement from Baroness Merron

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. 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.

"This National Blood Week, please register and book an appointment near you so the NHS can maintain its vital blood supply."

Statement from Gerry Gogarty

Director of Blood Supply, Gerry Gogarty, said:

"We offer around 50,000 appointments in 27 NHS donor centres and 250 community venues every week. We need to fill those appointments to supply the NHS with enough blood. Sadly, we are struggling to fill all the available slots.

"We know people want to donate – we’ve seen record registrations over the past year. Making it easier to donate is our priority so we are opening new donor centres and looking at how we can increase appointments close to where people live.

"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.

"Our community venues can get booked up quickly by our loyal, regular donors so we really need to fill the town and city centre donor centres – and particularly during daytime appointments.

"If you live or work near one of our 27 donor centres, please come and give blood this National Blood Week. If you already donate, why not bring a friend or family member. We need blood all year round and every day. Men can donate every 3 months and women every 4 months. So please donate regularly."

Statement from Professor Meghana Pandit

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."

NHS in England calls for one million people to donate blood to secure the nation’s blood supply

The critical need for donors

Isaac's story

Statements

How you can help