Bleed to feel amazing

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has launched its New Year Blood campaign to try and get as many people as possible to register to give blood and make it their New Year’s resolution for 2019.

Across England 830,000 people gave blood in 2018. This year, NHSBT are asking people to be part of this amazing group of people and make a New Year’s resolution to save lives.

Every day, thousands of people’s lives are saved or improved thanks to the generosity of donors. But, sadly, there are still many patients who can’t be treated because there simply aren’t enough supplies. That’s why there’s an urgent need for donations.

Please help, if you can. Just one hour of your time could save or improve the lives of up to three people. Last January more than 64,000 people registered to give blood. Why not join the growing number of life-savers this January?

Urgent requirements

• More men - currently around two thirds of all new donors are women. More men are needed to come forward to provide life-saving products like plasma and platelets – to save victims of burns, road traffic collisions and patients with cancer. Men’s blood is particularly useful to make plasma and platelets used to stop bleeding after injury or surgery
• More black donors – 40,000 black donors are urgently needed to provide blood donations for black patients with sickle cell disease. They need life-saving blood from black donors, which provides the closest match to their own.

Take the first step to become a life-saver

It takes just four steps to join the 830,000 people who gave blood in England last year.

1. Register - you can do this online or over the phone. You will be asked some simple questions to create a donor account where you can manage your appointments.
2. Book an appointment – you might not be able to book to donate immediately but please make an appointment now for later in the year.
3. Give blood – it usually takes between five and 10 minutes with the whole process lasting around an hour.
4. Feel proud – your donation can save up to three lives.

Remember, giving blood is quick, easy and saves lives. Don’t worry if you can’t make an appointment straight away. Even if you donate in a couple of months, you will still be saving lives!

If you would like to donate sooner, you can check out availability at one of the 23 permanent donor centres which are open longer and where there is more availability. Click here to find out more.