New data from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) today reveals an alarming generation gap amongst regular blood donors and calls for 10,000 people to 'make a date to donate.'

Only 14% of regular donors are aged under thirty, more than two thirds of regular donors are over the age of forty, and 200,000 donors drop off the register each year. NHSBT is today issuing a challenge to all potential donors to give blood regularly, to help save or improve the lives of thousands of people who need donated blood each year.

The National Blood Week survey, which polled over 1,700 people across the country and 1,000 current NHSBT donors, reveals a worrying trend that not enough young people are becoming regular blood donors, claiming they are too busy, do not know what is involved or are daunted by the thought of the procedure:

• 1 in 10 young people aged 18?24 claim their lives are too busy to find time to donate, even though nearly three quarters (72%) admit they think everyone who meets blood donation criteria should give blood and 9 in 10 (93%) of current blood donors donate during the working week.
• Over a third of young non-donors (37%) have never given blood because they are scared of needles, despite 43% of current blood donors stating the procedure is painless, with 43% describing it is as quick.
• 17% of young people who have not given said it's because they're not sure what is involved and 14% said it's because they don't know where to go to donate, despite 66% of current NHSBT donors describing the experience of blood donation as easy

The findings also show that while over a third (38%) of people know someone who has received a blood transfusion, NHSBT data indicates that 4% of the eligible population currently donate blood.

It is essential that new people register to become blood donors; the NHS needs 7,000 units of donated blood every day to be used for a wide range of reasons: from surgery or trauma, to treat cancer, blood disorders and for use in difficult childbirths. Every year thousands of lives are saved or improved thanks to selfless blood donors.

Jon Latham, Assistant Director of Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, comments:

As well as it being National Blood Week, globally today is World Blood Donor Day and we're using these occasions to call on 10,000 new donors to make a date to donate this year. It's easy to make that date either by calling 0300 123 2323 or booking online at www.blood.co.uk. And we want to remind everyone that blood donation is one of the simplest ways you can save or improve a life.just one unit of blood can save the life of three adults or seven babies, and you can start donating from the age of 17.

We also want to take the opportunity to thank our current donors for the invaluable contribution their donations make to saving lives and to ensuring blood stocks meet hospital demands. However three quarters of people who have ever given blood last donated over two years ago, so we're also keen to emphasise the need to give blood on a regular basis, to help replace the 15% of donors who leave the register each year.

Celebrities joining NHSBT's appeal for 10,000 donors include actress Kym Marsh, footballer Gary Lineker and TV presenter Kate Thornton. Those who have pledged to give blood include singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, TV presenter Jenny Frost, actress Jill Halfpenny, Dancing on Ice star Jayne Torvill and DJ Sara Cox.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor says:

Giving blood is something I've wanted to do for a while and World Blood Donor Day is the perfect opportunity. When I heard about the many mothers who receive blood during labour it really hit home how important it is for me to do my bit to help. I'm pleased to be able to contribute something that could save a life and plan to become a regular donor.

 

For more information about blood donation or to make an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk, call 0300 123 2323 or follow NHSBT at http://www.facebook.com/NHSBlood or www.twitter.com/NHSGiveBlood.

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