Next 6 weeks crucial for Christmas blood stocks as NHS warns of December slump in donations
The NHS in England is urging donors to book and stick to their appointments in the lead up to Christmas. New figures reveal that, last December, the total amount of blood collected was the lowest monthly total since 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
The NHS is calling for donors to book and fill appointments over the next six weeks to ensure we have the blood needed by hospitals this Christmas.
Help to fill appointments
The festive period is always a challenge for blood stocks as cold weather, seasonal illnesses and busier diaries lead to more unfilled and missed appointments, while demand from hospitals can rise.
Last December, the NHS collected around 108,000 donations - 10 percent below the monthly average - and the lowest monthly collection since 2020 (NHSBT monthly blood collection figures).
During the same period, hospitals were issued with 600 more units of blood than what was collected. And during Christmas week, demand for the vital O negative blood type – the universal type used to save lives in emergencies - exceeded collections by 300 units. The next six weeks are vital to ensure there is enough blood in stock to meet demand over the busy Christmas period.
This winter, England remains in Amber alert for low blood stocks. It urgently needs donors to fill appointments at the 26 fixed donor centres – particularly in the harder to fill daytime slots - over the coming weeks and months to ensure patients continue to receive the lifesaving blood they need.
Currently there are still over 99,000 appointments to fill across England up until the end of Christmas week, with over 62,000 (63%) of these in town and city centre donor centres.
People with O negative, B negative and Ro blood types are particularly needed in coming weeks. There is an ongoing need for more donors from the Black community to help patients with sickle cell who need ethnically matched blood.
Give the best gift of blood this Christmas
The 26 fixed town and city donor centres have greater appointment availability than community venues. NHS Blood and Transplant especially needs donors to fill slots at donor centres during the quieter weekday morning and afternoon sessions.
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.
Blood is constantly needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery, and O negative blood is mostly used for emergency care. Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
To book an appointment visit our website, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.