Giving Blood

I had never given blood before, and I was not the only one.

The NHS revealed a shortfall of 200,000 blood donors in England last year and issued an amber alert due to a shortage of supplies.

Just 2% of England’s population - around 800,000 people – have kept the nation’s blood stocks afloat over the past 12 months.

And although there has been a rise in newly registered donors, only 24% have followed through with a donation.

Now NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has warned of a potential first ever red alert, which represents a threat to public safety.

But there is hope

Since the then-named National Blood Transfusion Service was established in 1946, this vital service has only ever achieved success because of the generosity and can-do attitude of its volunteers.

Volunteers like Anne, 45, who first donated with a work colleague on a whim.

She said: “It is worth doing and you are making a difference to people. It’s an hour out of your day and a pint of blood to save someone’s life. If you can do it then why not?”

To mark National Blood Week (9 to 15 June), the NHSBT issued a call to arms and announced a target of 1 million blood donors in England.

Time to take matters into my own hands, or rather out of my own arms, and get that number down to 999,999.

The NHSBT has battled “unprecedentedly low levels” of O type blood for around a year

It was triggered by a cyber-attack on London hospitals in June 2024, when data from 300m interactions with patients was stolen by Russian hacking gang Qilin.

Crucially, details from blood tests were among the stolen data. To prevent patients from being given an incompatible blood type, the NHS played it safe and increased the use of O negative blood - the universal blood type.

But increasing the demand on this vital blood type dropped O type blood below a two day threshold and an amber alert was introduced - the NHSBT normally aim to maintain six days of stock for red blood cells.

During an amber alert hospitals conserve blood supplies, prioritise urgent transfusions and are encouraged to use alternative forms of treatment.

But stocks of O negative have remained low and the NHSBT has warned of a "pressing need" to avoid a first ever red alert.

Rationing intensifies under a red alert and hospitals prioritise blood for those in most need. This means patients who do not urgently need blood could have operations delayed.

A senior NHSBT official insisted those who really need blood would still get it, but a 'red alert' situation is still classed as 'threatening public safety' by the NHSBT.

O negative can be safely given to anyone

This makes it a lifeline in emergencies where a patient’s blood type is not known.

Just 8% of the total population have O negative blood (the percentage of donors with O negative is slightly higher, at 14%), but it makes up around 16% of blood used by hospitals and first responders according to the NHSBT.

The importance of donating blood

James Leftwich, 45, is an IT analyst and started donating blood in 2008 when his mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Two thirds of all blood donations are used to treat patients like James' mum, who rely on regular blood transfusions for serious illnesses like cancer and life-long blood diseases like sickle cell anaemia.

The remaining third is for surgery, childbirth and emergencies where a significant blood loss is suffered.

James said: “My mum fully recovered, but after having cancer she was told she was no longer able to donate.

“I thought that seeing as she can’t, I should really take the baton up and do it. I’ve basically been doing it ever since.”

James Leftwich outside Norfolk House after donating platelets

James Leftwich outside Norfolk House after donating platelets

Around ten years ago James also started to donate his platelets, which are tiny blood cells that stop bleeding. They can be separated from the rest of your blood by a machine which spins it to separate the platelets from the red blood cells. The platelets are stored while the red blood cells are returned to your veins.

James said the only real difference is it takes an hour, so it is especially important to hydrate beforehand. But because the red blood cells are returned you bloodstream, you can donate platelets every couple weeks whereas red blood cells can only be donated every 12 weeks.

He said: “A couple of weeks after each donation, they tell you where your donation has gone.

“That’s quite nice because it goes all about the country and its particularly nice if it goes so somewhere like Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool or Great Ormond Street in London, so that’s quite good.”

Hospitals across England need over 5000 blood donations each day. And to meet this demand, the NHSBT need around 143,000 new donors a year collecting 1.45 million units to ensure they have the right mix of blood groups.

The demand is constant as red blood cells only have a shelf life of 35 days and platelet donations last just seven days.

Dr Manisha Kumar, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Greater Manchester said: “Having a steady stream of donated blood is incredibly important to ensure that our hospitals across Greater Manchester keep caring for those who need it the most.

“Right now, O negative donors in Greater Manchester have the power to relieve the pressure on this vital blood type.

“Even if you’re not sure what blood type you are it doesn’t matter because every donation helps and the team will be able to tell you once you have donated.

“We hope that by raising awareness of the current urgent need will encourage the people of Greater Manchester to come forward and donate blood if they’re able to this Blood Donation Week and the weeks ahead.”

Time to roll up my sleeve

At 12:30pm on the Wednesday of National Blood Week I arrived at Norfolk House Donor centre in Manchester city centre – one of the 27 permanent donor centres in the UK.

I was one of around 90 blood donors they were expecting that day.

One nurse said the public had responded well to appeals for donors during National Blood Week.

On the Tuesday of National Blood Week - usually their busiest day - they expect around 90 donors. But due to the appeal, she reckoned around 130 people donated that day.

Lesley, 44, is a carer who also donated blood for the first time during this year’s National Blood Week.

She said: “My daughter’s pregnant and we were talking through the scenario if she needed blood and there wasn’t any. I thought one day there might not be.

“So, I decided I should go and give blood while I can.

“It takes an hour of your time and for every bit of blood they take from you it saves three people’s lives - so yeah, it’s definitely worth doing.”

While I waited, I read the notice board in front of me, which comprised of short messages from donors about who they are donating for.

People donated for a range of reasons. There were people who did it to honour a lost loved one, others who understood that their rare blood type gave them a civic duty and some who donated out of a sense that it was just a good thing to do. I guess I am in the last camp.

Soon enough my name was called and like most right-handed people I asked the nurse to take blood from my left arm. I am convinced she said I had a tremendous vein - but maybe that's my selective memory at play.

One nurse looks after each donor and their attention remained undivided the whole time.

The chairs recline and, rather like a cup holder, they have a holster to comfortably cradle your inept donating arm.

The nurse provided me with a laminate illustrating exercises to keep my blood pumping if I felt feint.

After a small prick the needle was in. The donation began without me realising - only when I looked down to my left and saw my blood in the donation pouch did I realise it was in action. I imagined I would be able to feel the blood being pumped out, but I couldn’t.

It typically takes 10 to 15 minutes to gather the 470ml blood sample, though mine took nine minutes since I wiggled my feet to keep my blood pumping. I was satisfied to come in one under par.

Soon I was humbled when - after the nurse pulled out the needle and applied the bandage - I passed out for a moment.

She rocked me back in my chair to a horizontal position and after a slightly dizzy minute I was back to my best.

Anne, 45, has donated blood six times and shared some advice on how to alleviate the impact of feinting.

She said: “If its your first time, try and go with somebody else so you have a bit of a backup and you’ve got somebody to talk to.

“You’re sitting in the chair, you’ve got the radio on, and you can bring something to read. But it might be better if you’ve got somebody to talk to as a distraction.”

Anne usually takes her kindle in for company.

She also recommended people to make sure they have a backup plan for getting home in case they are unfit to make their way home alone.

I was told by one of the NHS drivers that takes the blood donations to the hospital that this is why drivers like him are not allowed to donate blood on a work day.

Doctors also recommend that people avoid makeup when they donate to help them identify when donors suddenly losing colour from their face.

I was glad I did not put on my usually full face of fake tan, foundation and rosy-red blusher because the nurse clearly saw my face turn pale and swiftly rocked my chair in response.

Nothing an orange Club biscuit, a KitKat, a packet of Seabrook salted crisps and some lemon cordial could not fix.

Why people donate

Unlike most hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, a blood donation centre is full of people who have chosen to be there. People are there to help others and this created a positive environment.

Scott Wayne, 37, and a civil servant and has donated blood 8 times. He is very much one of these positive people.

He said: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and working in Manchester it’s really handy to just pop in after work and do it. A lot of companies let you do it as volunteering time, so that’s really good.

“You feel like you’re helping somebody and doing your bit – the bit that gets you past the pearly gates.

“You feel like you’re doing something really worthwhile for a good cause.”

Three days later I discovered my blood type is A+ in an email. It’s the second most common blood type - shared by 28% of people.

It can be used to treat A+ and AB+ patients, and I can receive blood from all A and O blood types.

A few days after that I received a text to say my 470ml sample had been sent to treat cancer patients at Christie Hospital Manchester - a journey of less than half an hour in the car.

My blood won't be getting homesick any time soon.

But it is nice that my blood has stayed local. I might one day walk past the person who it helped to treat. I might even know them.

My first donation earned me one ‘donor credit’ – four more and I get my bronze donor card.

But more importantly, in just one donation the NHSBT say you can save up to three lives.

Knowing how desperately the NHSBT needs new donors right now, this fact felt even more striking.

It took five minutes to register, the process was free, and the donation itself took only an hour or two out of my afternoon.

Given the shortage the NHS faces the rewards of the trade-off have never seemed immense, and the sacrifice has never been so small.

Book an appointment today at www.blood.co.uk, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23 to find your nearest session.

For more details about the donor centres in Manchester visit: Manchester Norfolk House and Manchester Plymouth Grove.