News and statements

11 September 2024

NHS plea for more donors of Black heritage – as three quarters of blood needed for sickle cell patients is used in London

New figures released by NHSBT show that last year 210 donations of blood were needed each day for treating patients with sickle cell disease across England, with over three quarters of this blood needed by hospitals in London.

09 September 2024

Mum of one, who needs a stem cell transplant after 12-year cancer battle, calls for people to sign up to newly renamed NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry

June Hoey, who will need a stem cell transplant later this year, is calling on people to join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry (formerly the British Bone Marrow Registry).

28 August 2024

Donors urged to ‘keep up the momentum’ to help sustain blood stocks as NHS remains in Amber Alert

The NHS renews its call to donors - particularly those with O type blood – as blood stocks Amber Alert continues.

23 August 2024

World-first genome wide study of which people make the best stem cell donors

NHS Blood and Transplant has begun a world-first study to identify which genes make some people stem cell super donors.

21 August 2024

Drones successfully fly blood packs in longest ever ‘beyond visual line of sight’ flights in UK first

Blood packs have been successfully flown by drone in a series of ‘beyond visual line of sight’ flights, for the first time in the UK.

08 August 2024

Lady who gets eye drops made from blood meets donors

Carolyn Frost, who receives eye drops made from blood, has met and thanked two men whose donations were used for her treatment.

01 August 2024

More platelet donors are needed

September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness month and we want to encourage more donors to switch to platelet donation. This is because 1 donation can help up to 12 children with cancer.

25 July 2024

NHS calls national blood shortage amber alert

National Amber Alert has been issued for O negative and O positive blood. O group donors are asked to urgently book and keep appointments at Donor Centres.

15 July 2024

Not all heroes wear capes: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman urge film fans to come together and give blood

Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are calling on film fans to be ‘heroes’ by becoming blood donors.

08 July 2024

Changes to how we record your sex assigned at birth and gender

To make sure our donors and patients receive the best care possible and as part of our continuous drive to be inclusive, we have made some changes to how we record your sex assigned at birth and gender.