- Health officials said more black donors are needed for a special subtype of blood
- Between 2014 and 2016 there was a 75% increase in Ro blood issued in England
- At present, just 1% of all donations across the country are made by black people
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
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Health officials have launched an urgent appeal for black people to volunteer to give their blood.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said 40,000 more black donors are needed to meet growing demand for a special subtype of blood.
The health authority said between 2014 and 2016 there was a 75 per cent increase in the amount of Ro blood issued to hospitals in England.
But at present, just one per cent of all blood donations in the country are made by black people, statistics show.
A high proportion of this is used to treat sickle cell disease – a condition which is particularly common in people with an African or Caribbean family background.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said 40,000 more black donors are needed to meet growing demand for a special subtype of blood
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‘The right mix’
Mike Stredder, NHSBT’s director of blood donation, said: ‘We need to ensure that we have the right mix of donors and blood types, to help meet the needs of all patients who need life-saving treatment.
‘In recent weeks, we have been overwhelmed by the numbers of people stepping forward and wanting to donate and show their support for those affected by recent tragic events.
THE MOTHER WHO BACKS THE CAMPAIGN
The mother of a 10-year-old sickle cell disease patient has backed the campaign.
Matthew Akinmuleya, from London, was diagnosed with the condition at birth and has since required a blood transfusion every month.
His mother, Omotolani Olabifi, said: ‘The hospital tried to see if he could manage without blood transfusions, but he had so much pain, AE admissions, IV and oral morphine. Nothing could help.
‘The blood he receives makes a huge difference. In the first two weeks after his transfusion he is like a normal 10-year-old. He has energy and is able to go to school.
‘But after three weeks, he starts to look pale, jaundiced, tired and pain takes over. In the week before his transfusion, he will be in severe pain and often admitted to hospital.
‘As a mother and carer, I really appreciate all of those who donate. My child would not have survived without you. We need the help for our children to help them live. Without this blood, his story would be so different.’
‘Thankfully, due to the loyalty of our regular donors, our emergency stocks have proven to be strong and sufficient, but we still need to ensure that we can be there every day, for every patient who needs us.’
What is sickle cell disease?
People with sickle cell disease have abnormal red blood cells which do not move around blood vessels easily and carry less oxygen around the body.
The condition, which affects around 15,000 people in the UK, can be extremely painful and cause life-threatening infections.
Blood transfusions can help prevent or relieve these symptoms.
To get the best treatment patients need blood which is closely matched – which is most likely to come from someone of the same ethnicity.
To mark National Blood Week, NHSBT has launched a new campaign – £ImThere – to try to encourage more donors to register and donate.
Tainted blood scandal
The plea comes after The Mail reported that victims of the tainted blood scandal could sue the Government after evidence of a cover-up emerged.
Documents suggested officials knew the blood products were harmful – yet continued to allow them to be given to patients.
Thousands of sufferers of the blood clotting disorder haemophilia were given infected products on the NHS in the 1970s and 1980s.
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