EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 26th April 2012

30% Boost to Summer Blood Stocks Needed Ahead of 2012 Events

New appeal calls for donors of all blood groups to make an appointment now via www.blood.co.uk or 0300 123 23 23

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) today launched an appeal for donors to help boost stocks to 30% above usual levels[1] by the start of the Olympic Games in July.

The increase is needed because of the unusually high number of public events in the UK this summer, including the Olympic Games. Past experience[2] shows that even regular donors miss appointments during national events and celebrations as routines are disrupted. This, combined with the high numbers of international visitors with a different native blood mix to our own may also put high demand on specific blood groups.

The higher than usual number of public holidays and sporting events and the Jubilee celebrations makes forward planning essential to ensure anticipated demand can be met.

Jon Latham, spokesperson for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “This year we have a unique situation and need the public’s help to counterbalance the inevitable dip in donations as people celebrate a memorable summer for the country. We need to adjust the mix of stocks so we are well prepared as a responsible host for these exciting events.”

Donors of all blood groups are needed to help build stock but there are particularly high targets[3] for the following blood groups to help build and adjust the blood mix:

·       O+ (52% increase)

·       O- (43% increase)

·       B- (14% increase)

To launch the campaign, blood donors from each of the four main blood groups appeared in London yesterday, painted with blood vessel and blood group ‘body art-ery’ to raise awareness of the need for donors of all blood types to act now. The launch saw the ‘body art-ery’ painted dono