More women can now save lives in Reading
Reading Donor Centre is this week upgrading to new ‘female friendly’ donor machines which will almost double the number of women who can donate lifesaving plasma.
Up until now, the number of female donors has been severely restricted. The previous donation machines operated to minimum height and weight criteria that ruled most women out.
Only around 7% of the 1,600 plasma donors at the centre on King’s Road were female, because of the restrictions.
However the new machines operate with new height and weight criteria, based on more up to date evidence. The majority of women can now donate plasma, which will even up the donor mix, and bolster donations of a medicine under supply pressure.
Three machines are now in place with six more due to follow within days.
The new machines can take donations from women who are shorter or who weigh less. Previously, a woman who is 5ft 4ins tall had to weigh 12 stone 8lbs to make a donation. Now, a woman who is 5ft 4ins tall only needs to weigh 9 stone to make a donation.
Paula Ussher, Reading Plasma Donor Centre manager, said:
“Our new plasma donation machines are female friendly, enabling almost twice as many women to save lives by giving plasma.
“We know some women were disappointed because we had to turn them away before. Now, more people than ever can donate.
“Please register to donate plasma – you have a medicine in you which will save lives.”
New Machines
The new machines have another advantage. They are designed solely for plasma donation, whereas the previous ones were designed to take donations of several blood products. Donors say the new machines are more comfortable and each donation takes about 35 minutes instead of 45 minutes.
The donor’s blood is gradually passed through a machine which spins out the plasma.
Plasma will be used to make immunoglobulin, an antibody medicine which strengthens or stabilises the immune system of people with rare disorders.
Each year, around 750 people from the Thames Valley receive immunoglobulin, and around 3,700 from the South as a whole.
Donate
Barbara Taylor – known as Bea – donates plasma after her husband Scott was treated with immunoglobulin medicine made from plasma.
Scott had immune thrombocytopenia, an autoimmune disorder. His body was destroying his own platelets, the tiny cells that help blood to clot, putting him at risk of serious internal bleeding.
He was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital and treatment included intravenous infusions of immunoglobulin.
Bea, 42, a children’s worker, from west Reading, said:
“I just think donating is a good way to give back. You never know when you are going to need it. The donor centre is lovely and the new machines are better.
“We never expected Scott to need treatment, it was totally out of the blue. Now I donate and you never whose life that little bag of plasma will change.”
Register to donate plasma in Reading at www.blood.co.uk/plasma