Giving blood and plasma in all Tiers remains essential for the NHS during strictest Covid-19 restrictions

Blood, plasma and platelet donors in all Tiers are urged by the NHS to keep attending as normal if they are fit and healthy. Giving blood and plasma – including in Tier 3 and Tier 4 – is classed as essential travel and donation sessions will stay open, with appointments remaining as normal.

This important reminder follows a fresh appeal from NHS Blood and Transplant for blood and platelet donors to make an appointment over the New Year if they don’t already have one. Donors are also asked to keep to their appointment if they can, to help build blood stocks ahead of a potentially challenging winter period.

The only two days of the year that blood donations are not collected is Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

An extra 1,500 units of blood is currently needed every week and extra appointments have been added across the country to help meet this need. Permanent donor centres in major towns and cities generally have the best appointment availability.

Extra safety measures are in place. Donors are triaged with a temperature check on arrival. Hand gels and hand washing facilities are available, donors are spaced apart and staff are doing extra cleaning. Staff and donors wear face coverings.

Donors are reminded to follow all relevant Government transport guidance when making a journey to give blood.

Each donation can save or improve up to three lives.

Book appointments and check the latest guidance on Covid-19 and giving blood by calling 0300 123 23 23, downloading the NHS Give Blood app, or visiting the website blood.co.uk.

• NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We provide the blood donation service for England and the organ donation service for the UK. We also provide donated tissues, stem cells and cord blood. We are an essential part of the NHS, saving and improving lives through public donation.
• It is quick and easy to book an appointment to give blood. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk 
• There is no requirement to test for SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. There is no evidence of any type of coronavirus being transmitted through blood donation. No blood donation services are testing blood donations for the virus.
• We are currently appealing for normal donation not urgent donations. We need people to keep donating as normal to maintain stocks at good levels in the weeks and months ahead. Covid-19 transmission could go on for many months. If we called in too many donors now, that could leave us short of reliable donors in the next 12 to 16 weeks, a period when we may need those donors more. We may call donors to come forward or make other changes to collection but would do so at the most strategic time.