NHS appeal for blood donors in Mansfield and Ashfield

The NHS Blood and Transplant service particularly wants people who have the blood groups B Rh negative and O Rh negative to sign.

There are blood donor sessions approaching in the area that need more donors to attend and help save lives.

The service is reminding people to donate ahead of their breaks to help maintain stocks for hospital patients over the summer.

Blood stocks tend to fall at this time of year as people get distracted by holidays and the warmer weather, a spokesman said.

Although overall blood use within the NHS has reduced, thanks to improvements in clinical and surgical practices, hospitals and patients still rely on more than 7,000 people attending a donation session every day across England and North Wales.

B Rh negative blood is in demand because certain ethnic groups are more prone to particular diseases that require blood, such as sickle cell anaemia and Thalassaemia and a higher proportion of these ethnic groups are Group B Rh.

Group B Rh negative blood can be given to B negative or B positive patients.

Donors with blood group O Rh negative are typically known as the “universal donor” as their blood can be given to patients with a different blood group. This can prove vital in an emergency situation when there may not be time for an immediate blood grouping test to be carried out.

You can give blood locally at the following sessions:

South Forest Leisure Complex, Edwinstowe, NG21 9JF

Monday 4th August

1pm to 3.30pm then 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

The Festival Hall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, NG17 7DJ

Friday 8th August

12.30pm to 3.15pm and 4.45pm to 7.30pm.

Lammas Leisure Centre, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 2AD

Friday 29th August

1pm to 3.15pm and 4.45pm to 7.30pm.

Mansfield Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South, NG19 7BH

Sunday 10th August

10.15am to 12.45pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Spokesman Holly Mason told Chad: “We know people are busy and especially in the summer but we’re asking that they remember those hospital patients who need blood to save or improve their lives. We’re asking our donors to please make an appointment to donate before they go away.

“If you’ve never given blood before, why not make this summer the time you join our donors and make a difference to others? Each blood donation can potentially save up to three lives.”

Patients in need of blood in accident and emergency situations, patients undergoing surgery and receiving treatment for cancer and blood diseases, and women haemorrhaging in childbirth rely on blood donors.

You can find out whether we’ve got a session coming up in your area on www.blood.co.uk and book an appointment online to donate.

You can also register to become a donor on our website. Anyone aged between 17 - 65, weighing more than 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor. There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.