Guy's and St Thomas' backs call for new blood donors

Tuesday 16 August 2016


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Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust uses more than 50,000 blood products a year, which is why the Trust is backing NHS Blood and Transplant’s call for new blood donors.

As part of NHS Blood and Transplant’s Missing Type campaign, launched on Tuesday 16 August, the As, Os, and Bs, letters of the main blood groups, have disappeared from iconic locations across the globe.

St Thomas’ Hospital is among the locations taking part, and has lost its As and Os as part of a new TV advert.

Dr Susan Robinson, a consultant haematologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “When a decision is made to offer a patient a blood transfusion, the importance of having blood readily available should never be underestimated.

“Donated blood saves lives every day. We are so grateful to the people who donate blood. For many of our patients, whether they are receiving blood alongside cancer treatment or because they are bleeding, it is the best gift they can receive.”

One of the pioneers of blood transfusion, Dr James Blundell, practised at Guy’s Hospital in the 19th century. His first recorded success was treating a woman who had lost blood giving birth. After receiving a few ounces of blood from her husband, the woman survived. Today Guy’s and St Thomas’ uses more than 50 blood products a month to help women who are losing blood in childbirth.

Mike Stredder, Director of Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, the service that collects, tests and processes blood for hospitals across England, said: “Blood donation is an amazing gift and we are really grateful to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for their support. Blood transfusions save lives and we need people to register as new donors at www.blood.co.uk.

“Thanks to the generosity of our current donors, hospitals have the blood needed to treat patients and there is not a crisis in blood stocks. Despite overall blood use in hospitals declining, we need more people to start giving blood to replace those who can no longer donate and to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups to match patient needs in the future.

“We need more young donors to help ensure the future of blood donation. We also particularly need more people of Black African, Black Caribbean, mixed race, Arab and South Asian heritage to become blood donors to reflect the ethnic diversity of patients.

“Don’t worry if you’ve never given blood before and don’t know what blood group you are – you find out shortly after your first donation. What’s important is that you register as a donor and book your first appointment to donate.”

  • To sign up as a new donor, visit: www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23
  • Support the campaign on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram #MissingType.

Last updated: March 2022

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