News and statements

02 April 2026

Donated plasma restores woman's eyesight, lost after birth of first child

A woman from Cornwall, who lost the sight in both eyes after the birth of her first child, has had it restored thanks to blood and plasma donors across the country.

23 March 2026

The special ‘NEO’ blood donors helping England’s sickest babies

Around 200,000 of England’s donors have the blood needed by poorly newborns, the NHS has revealed as it urges more people to give blood to help seriously ill children and adults.

11 March 2026

First anniversary of UK-derived plasma medicines

One year ago, following the lifting of a longstanding ban on the use of UK plasma in 2021, NHS patients received immunoglobulin treatment made from UK-donated plasma for the first time in 25 years.

04 March 2026

World Book Day gift to Manchester primary school pupils aims to inspire a new generation of Black heritage blood donors

To mark World Book Day NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is giving hundreds of primary school pupils across Manchester a free children's book to help inspire a new generation of Black heritage blood donors.

26 January 2026

Mum leads call for better awareness of Kawasaki disease plus more blood and plasma donors to come forward and help produce life-saving medicines

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is teaming up with parents and Dr Emily MacDonagh to raise awareness of Kawasaki disease.

22 January 2026

Londoners save tens-of-thousands of lives in the first year of the Brixton blood donor centre

More than 50,000 lives have been saved or improved in the first year of operation of London’s newest blood donor centre in Brixton, new data from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) reveals.

15 January 2026

Cancer survivor and long-time plasma donor urges new donors to step forward this January to donate blood or plasma

Stephen Franklin, 60, from Hollywood in Worcestershire has been a dedicated plasma donor since 2020 and is now encouraging others to come forward, after a cancer diagnosis meant he can no longer donate.

29 December 2025

Plasma medicine recipient visits Birmingham donor centre to thank donors and encourage donations over the festive period

Margaret Bennett, a 73-year-old retired teacher from Birmingham, visited the NHS Blood and Transplant plasma donor centre on Birmingham New Street to meet local plasma donors and share her personal story.

23 December 2025

Birmingham mum who lost 8.5L of blood over Christmas asks locals to give a “lifechanging” gift this year

A mum-of-2 from Coleshill, Birmingham, is asking people to take an hour out of their Christmas or New Year sales shopping this year to give the most important gift of all by donating blood.

22 December 2025

NHS Blood and Transplant launch new service to turbocharge Black heritage recruitment by making donation an inspirational communal activity

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has launched a new service to make blood donation a more welcoming and empowering experience for Black heritage donors by enabling them to give blood together.