Donors can book appointments in Edgware to help NHS replenish stocks

A blood donation sign — NHS Blood and Transplant – Blood donor centre sign

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is calling for O Positive and O Negative blood donors to urgently donate blood to shore up stocks of O type blood in London.

O negative is the type that can be given to anyone which makes it vital in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown. Air ambulances and emergency response vehicles carry O negative supplies. Just 8% of the population have type O Negative but it makes up for around 15% of hospital orders.

O positive is the most common blood type – 35% of donors have it – and can be given to anybody with any positive blood type, meaning three in every four people, or 76% of the population, can benefit from an O positive donation.

An NHSBT spokesperson said: “We urgently need O Negative and O Positive donors to book appointments to give blood in London. We currently need to prioritise donors who know they are type O but also welcome new donors who don’t yet know their blood type.

“Please book an appointment at one of our donor centres which currently have good appointment availability. There are more than 6,000 appointments available in London this week and next week. Go to blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.”

Following the bank holidays and school holidays, the NHS currently has lower than normal stocks of type O blood. Next week is National Blood Week during which NHSBT will be launching a big push for new donors ahead of the summer.

Over 600 appointments available in Stratford, Shepherd’s Bush, Oxford Circus, Tooting and Edgware.

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