Give the gift of life this Easter

IN the run up to Easter, NHS Blood and Transplant is asking Merseyside residents to think about those less fortunate than themselves and give blood, as well as giving gifts and chocolate to friends and family.

According to Barbara Blanche, Lead Donor Relations Manager for NHS Blood and Transplant for the North West area:- “Easter is a time of celebrating new life and what better way to celebrate than to help those who need it, by donating blood. It’s an important time to give, as blood stocks are often more vulnerable around public holidays, when people go away or are busy getting out and about as the weather improves. If you have an appointment to donate at an upcoming session, please keep it, especially if you are an O negative and B negative blood donor. If you don’t yet have an appointment booked, please make one to donate in the upcoming weeks and help us to keep stock levels healthy.  We are always grateful to donors who respond to calls such as this and appreciate that in doing so they do give up some of their precious time. Please bear with us if there are slightly longer waits than normal on session as a result.”

Donors with blood group O negative are typically known as the “universal donor” as their blood can be given to patients with a different blood group. This can prove vital in an emergency situation when there may not be time for an immediate blood grouping test to be carried out.

B negative blood is in demand because certain ethnic groups are more prone to particular diseases that require blood, such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia and a higher proportion of these ethnic groups are Group B. Group B negative blood can be given to B negative or B positive patients. Just 2% of the population are B negative.

Blood donations are a vital part of treatment for many conditions including cancer and long term illnesses, people involved in accidents and in maternity care. Hospitals across England and North Wales need 7,000 units of blood every day and each unit can save the lives of up to 3 people.

Anyone aged between 17 to 65, weighing more than 50 kg (7st 12lbs) and in general good health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor. There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last 2 years.

For more information or to book an appointment visit:- blood.co.uk or contact 0300 123 23 23.

BLOOD DONOR SESSIONS TO BE HELD DURING APRIL 2014

Liverpool Donor Centre
Unit 6, 2 Moorfields
(Entrance on Dale Street)
Liverpool

Monday/Thursday/Friday/Alternate Saturdays: 8.20am until 3.30pm
Tuesday/Wednesday: 12.20pm until 7.30pm

Friday 04.04.14
Holy Trinity Parish Hall
Rosemary Lane
FORMBY
1.00pm-3.00pm & 4.30pm-6.30pm

Monday 07.04.14
Thistle Hotel
Penny Lane
HAYDOCK
2.00pm-4.00pm & 5.30pm-7.30pm

Tuesday 08.04.14
All Hallow’s Church Hall
1 Greenhill Road
ALLERTON
2.00pm-4.00pm & 5.30pm-7.30pm