Urgent appeal launched for more NI blood donors
Transfusion Service says it needs 115 additional donations every week
Last updated 12th Jun 2019
Northern Ireland's Blood Transfusion Service urgently needs 115 new donors every week.
And the message during Blood Donation week is simple: 'Please help us save a life'. care.
The service says it needs blood for a wide range of patients including children with leukaemia, pregnant mums and those with cancer.
Each week around 500 people in Northern Ireland need a life-saving blood transfusion.
However, just 6% of the NI population currently give blood.
Experts say blood donation is straightforward and makes a huge difference, highlighted recently by Christine Wilson’s story.
Christine’s son Frankie was born with an incurable heart disease and his treatment requires multiple surgeries. Christine says “He has had four surgeries to date, the first one as an emergency after a cardiac arrest. Frankie has also needed blood and blood products post-op on a few occasions. This all sounds very harrowing but it is Frankie’s only option to carry on enjoying the life he loves.”
Christine also notes “Frankie is O negative, so it’s doubly important that people with this rare blood group donate. My little warrior has received a lot of blood in his first year but is such a happy boy.”
Although the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service relies on regular donors it also needs 115 new donors every week.
New donors can enrol by texting BLOOD to 60081, calling 08085 534 666, or visiting www.nibts.org.
The website has a section for checking donation eligibility, as well as details of upcoming donation venues; our Facebook and Twitter pages also have lots of information on blood and platelet donation. So please, give a little and help a lot.