Urgent plea for blood donors as Manchester has among the fewest appointments booked - where and how to donate

People in Manchester are being asked to consider giving blood urgently as the level of appointments booked in the city is among the country’s lowest.

NHS Blood and Transplant has launched an emergency appeal for blood donors to come forward and book appointments at the city’s two donor centres as stocks have dropped.

This has been attributed to a combination of staff and donors being ill and the numbers of people coming forward to donate dropping over the summer due to holidays and other events.

This is the current situation in Manchester and what you need to know if you can help replenish blood stocks.

Why is an urgent appeal going out for blood donors in Manchester?

Health bosses say levels of donated blood in Manchester have dropped and are now classed as vulnerable, with stock likely to be further diminished if more appointments are not booked in the next few weeks.

NHS Blood and Transplant says both blood donor centres in Manchester have among the lowest-levels of booked appointments of all the donor centres across the country for the coming weeks.

Across the two centres, which are Plymouth Grove in the city centre and Norfolk House on Brown Street, around 57% of appointments have been booked for next week and just 40% of slots are filled for the week after.

That meets both centres are looking for people to book appointments urgently.

The lowest blood stock is for O positive, with national levels at around three days, compared to the six days the NHS seeks to have. Donors with this type are particularly needed, though donors of all types are welcome, especially O and B negative.

Demand for blood has also risen as hospitals catch up on the backlog of routine activity postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Health bosses say hospitals are continuing to receive all the blood they need but more donation appointments are now needed to ensure stocks do not fall further.

Each blood donation can save or improve up to three lives. Blood is used to treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery.

How do I book an appointment in Manchester?

There are two permanent blood donation centres in Manchester, Plymouth Grove and Norfolk House, and mobile sessions are also run at venues across the city-region.

First-time donors will need to register online here. You will be asked some basic questions to make sure you are eligible to give blood and will need to enter some details to set up an account.

Those who have registered can then book appointments by visiting the Give Blood website here, by downloading the NHS Give Blood app or by calling 0300 123 23 23.

What has been said about the call for donors to come forward?

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson said: “We currently have blood to meet demand but stocks have dropped and we need to stop them falling further - now. We urgently need more people to book appointments.

“If you are one of our amazing donors in Manchester, or you want to donate for the first time, please make and keep an appointment for the next few days or weeks.

“If you used to donate blood but haven’t done so in a while, please come back if you can – our fantastic teams across the city’s blood donor centres will be delighted to welcome you. Every appointment counts.”