England and North Wales
Who Can Give Blood?
Most people can give blood. If you are generally in good health, age 17 to 65 (if it's your first time) and weigh at least 50kg (7st 12Ib) you can donate. However, If you are female, aged under 20 years old and weigh under 65kg (10st 3lb) and are under 168cm (5' 6") in height, we need to estimate your blood volume before donating. There is no medical reason for an upper weight limit. However, our current donation beds and chairs are designed to safely accommodate a person weighing up to 25 stone (350 lb or 158 kg). You will need to be able to get on and off the donation bed or chair unaided or, if you have mobility problems, to bring someone along to assist you.
If you are unsure please feel free to call our 24 hour donor helpline on 0300 123 23 23.
Male donors can give blood every 12 weeks. That's approximately every 3 months or 4 times in a 12 month period. Female donors can give every 16 weeks or approximately every 4 months.
> Take the Donor Health CheckSave more lives
Join the organ donor register
Donate platelets
The British Bone Marrow Registry
Donate tissues
Donate cord blood
Every year the lives of thousands of people are saved or transformed through organ transplantation. Join the register.
Platelet donations are often life-saving. Have you given blood before? You may be able to donate platelets. More about Platelet Donation.
The British Bone Marrow Registry is a division of NHS Blood and Transplant. More about the BBMR.
Tissue donation gives many families the option of making a difference to others. More about Tissue Donation.
In creating one life why not save another? Are you pregnant and live in North London? You may be able to donate cord blood. More about Cord Blood Donation.
Our special appeal to
O- and B-
blood donors
Don't waste your time
Make sure you can give
Find out the top reasonsyou may be unable to
give blood >
You can call us on
0300 123 23 23
View Session Searcher to find your nearest venue.
Alternatively we can call you Minicom 0845 730 0106
Alternatively we can call you Minicom 0845 730 0106
Amazing Stories
Tiny baby Keira needed dozens of transfusions to help her survive a rare blood disease...
Read about Keira
Read about Keira