NHS Urges B Negative Blood Donors in the South West to Give Blood as Stocks Fall

Only 1,497 eligible B negative donors remain in region as NHS makes summer plea

People in the South West with the rare B negative blood type are being urged to donate now as NHS Blood and Transplant warns stocks are under pressure.

A total of 1,497 B negative donors in the region are currently eligible to give blood, and the NHS is asking them to come forward urgently. A recent rise in hospital demand and a decline in active donors has left B negative blood stocks at risk of running low.

One of the rarest blood types

Only two percent of the population have B negative blood. It’s one of the rarest types and those who have it can only receive B negative or O negative blood. That means a shortage not only impacts direct supply, but also places additional strain on emergency stocks of O negative, which are used when there’s no time to test for blood type.

Right now, fewer than 20,000 people with B negative blood donate regularly, and the donor base has dropped by 1,000 people since last year.

Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
“B negative donors are immensely important to our lifesaving work but as one of the rarest blood types, it can be a challenge to always collect enough.
“Right now B negative stocks are at risk of running low. With a blood type this rare, just a slight rise in hospital demand or one or two patients suddenly requiring a high number of units, can put significant extra pressure on supplies.
“We urgently need existing B negative donors to make an appointment to donate and more people with this blood type to become regular donors and help secure the life-saving supply of blood to patients in the weeks, months and years ahead.”

Family members encouraged to register

If you are B negative, the NHS is also encouraging you to ask your family members to come forward. They are 30 percent more likely to share your blood type than the general population.

Anyone who already knows they are B negative can now enter this when they register, helping them to be prioritised for appointments.

Existing B negative donors will also be given priority access, and if they are struggling to book online, they are being urged to call 0300 123 23 23.

“If you are a B negative donor and can’t find an appointment at a session near you, please call us and we will do what we can to make one available for you,” said Gerry. “If you have never given blood before and believe you are B negative please sign up and book an appointment today.”

More than 5,000 donations needed every day

Hospitals in England require over 5,000 blood donations daily for treatments ranging from traumatic injuries to cancer, sickle cell and childbirth. In addition to B negative, there’s also a continuing need for O negative and RO blood types.

Donating takes around an hour and each donation can help save up to three lives. Men can donate every three months, and women every four months.

To book an appointment, visit www.blood.co.uk, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.