Appeal for more blood donors as stocks fall

People from these groups make up just 10.3 per cent of blood donors in the region, despite representing around 30 per cent of the county's population.

The figures have been released by NNHS Blood and Transplant to mark National Blood Week, which runs until Sunday.

Health chiefs say that the service needs donors from all communities so it can meet the needs of patients.

Donations are needed for blood groups such as B Rh positive, AB Rh positive and B Rh positive, which are more prevalent among black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

Jon Latham, assistant director of donor services and marketing at NHS Blood and Transplant, urged people to come forward.

He said: "Blood donors are amazing - every time they give up some of their free time and donate, they save lives.

"While people from all communities and backgrounds do give blood, only four per cent of our blood donors who have donated blood in the last two years are from black, Asian or minority ethnic communities.

"This is compared to black, Asian or minority ethnic communities representing around 14 per cent of the population. We want to try and readdress this balance."

Each year around 200,000 new blood donors are needed to replace those who can no longer donate because of ill health, pregnancy or foreign travel.

Balbinder Kaur, from Birmingham, suffers from Thalassaemia and receives regular blood donations.

"People like me need blood to live," she said.

"It feels like receiving a gold medal. I have more energy, I feel better, it gives me haemoglobin and it keeps me alive. I appreciate everyone who donates blood to save my life."

Blood stocks usually fall around this time of year, with the World Cup being blamed as a possible distraction.

People who are fit and healthy, weigh more than seven stone 12lbs and are aged 17 to 66 can give blood.

Visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.