Appeal for donors – as blood donations drop by almost 700 this January

Covid hit and the life-saving Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) had to adapt and overcome.

This meant staging less donation sessions, sticking to larger, more socially distanced venues, and implementing an appointment-only system where donors book a slot over the phone.

In January 2020, 39 mobile sessions, and the static headquarters at the City Hospital, yielded 3,812 units of blood.

By January 2021, there were 27 mobile sessions, and coupled with the stationary Lisburn Road Donation Suite, 3,144 units were donated.

That’s a drop of 668 units of blood.

Meanwhile in April 2020, 284 units were imported from Manchester to address the need here.

But now, demand is rising again, as the health service sees shoots of recovery, and as more operations therefore resume.

⚠️'Head above water' - for now...⚠️

"We haven’t gone to as many of our local towns so were trying to fill every appointment slot for every session to make sure we get enough blood in for the population of Northern Ireland and it has been difficult,” said Alison Geddis, who’s head of Donor and Laboratory Services.

“We’re keeping our head above water, but if all surgery goes back on, we will need to have additional sessions on to meet that demand.”

🎁Donation is a 'gift' 🎁

NIBTS is appealing for more donors to make the essential journey and travel to a donation centre, even if that means a longer journey.

Alison said: “It is really a gift. You don’t realise that you could save three lives because we can get red cells from your donation, plasma from your donation, and we can make a platelet unit from your donation.”

Although grateful to every individual who has contributed in the past year, Alison is also calling on new donors to sign up, even though she acknowledges that may be daunting during the pandemic.

“Yes, you have to come alone to donate, which is very different because you could have come before with a few friends before for that first experience,” she said.

But she revealed her daughter, a student, recently made her first donation, and it was a success.

“She told me, ‘Mum it was fine! Everyone was lovely and they chatted to me and it was quite a nice experience!’ And she had no ill effects afterwards, so absolutely I would encourage young people to give it a go”.

❓But what's it like to donate amid the covid crisis?❓

To shine a light on what it's like to donate during the pandemic, for donors new and old, Downtown Cool FM News reporter Sarah McKinley went to HQ, and gave 475mls of her own A+ blood.

You can watch that video here 👇

🌐Where can I donate?🌐

You can find out your closest venue, and how to donate an appointment here 👇

https://nibts.hscni.net/donating-blood/where-to-donate/