London Deputy Mayor takes to the road to urge Londoners to give blood and keep the capital’s hospitals going during difficult winter months

London's Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice is backing an urgent appeal for Londoners to give blood during the difficult winter months when vital stocks come under strain.

A side on view of the specially wrapped double decker bus, with the words "Every 90 seconds, London hospitals need a unit of blood" Deputy Mayor Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard will board one of 3 specially wrapped London double-decker buses criss-crossing the capital. The buses are emblazoned with a powerful message that London’s hospitals need one donation of blood every 90 seconds to meet the need of patients.

The buses are designed to inspire blood donation and raise awareness of the critical need for blood donors during the challenging winter months. The double-deckers will travel on routes near 3 major blood donor centres, in Brixton, Bow and Shepherd’s Bush into December.

Dr Weekes-Bernard will be joined on the bus by influencer and sickle cell campaigner Simply Sayo, and London blood donors and recipients, whose lives have been saved or improved by the generosity of the capital’s blood donors.

The final stop for the bus will be the Brixton blood donor centre, where Dr Weekes-Bernard will meet blood donors and centre staff before making her own blood donation.

Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard standing at a podium, next to wall text stating "I live to give #GiveBlood" The NHSBT appeal is in response to the annual winter shortfall in blood donations, when cold weather, winter illnesses and the holiday getaway, mean many donation appointments go unfilled.

Over the next 6 weeks there are more than 23,000 unfilled blood donation appointments in London, with the capital accounting for just under half (42%) of all unfilled slots across England.

Any shortfall in donations will hit London particularly hard, as its hospitals use the lion’s share of blood collected across England.

NHS Blood and Transplant data shows that one in every 4 blood donations used by the NHS in England last year went to hospitals in London. That’s 921 lifesaving units every day, or one every 90 seconds.

NHSBT particularly needs donors with the Ro blood subtype, which is used to treat patients with sickle cell, an inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage.

Across London there are more than 3,000 Ro donors who are eligible to donate but who haven’t made an appointment in the past year. NHSBT and City Hall is urging those donors to do something amazing this winter and make an appointment to give blood.

Social media influencer Simply Sayo, who has more than 400,000 Instagram followers, has partnered with NHSBT to launch a year-long campaign to recruit 16,000 additional Black heritage blood donors to help people living with sickle cell.

Sayo, real name Adesayo Talabi, lost 2 of her sisters to sickle cell and is focussed on using her platform to mobilise Black communities to become blood donors, as Black heritage donors are 10 times more likely to have the Ro subtype than the White population.

Statements

Statement from Mark Chambers

NHSBT Director of Donor Experience Mark Chambers said:

"The winter period is a challenging time for the hospitals and emergency services who rely on a stable supply of blood to treat patients.

"With more than 23,000 appointments available to book in London over the next 6 weeks, we are urging those with the Ro, O negative and B negative blood type to come in and donate. If you can't see an available appointment on our site, call us and we will find you one.

"Londoners can do something truly amazing and this winter by making a blood donation. Each donation has the potential to save or improve the lives of 3 adults, or 6 children."

Statement from Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard

London's Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes- Bernard said:

"As the capital's healthcare services face the pressures of winter, I’m urging Londoners to step forward and give blood.

"Donating is quick, easy and painless, and this simple act of generosity can quite literally save lives. With so many appointments still unfilled, we need more people to see just how vital their contribution is – and we need donations from Londoners of Black heritage, which are particularly low, to help patients with sickle cell.

"I'm proud to stand with NHS Blood and Transplant as we build a better, healthier London for everyone, and I hope all eligible will consider rolling up their sleeves and joining me."

How you can help

Book a blood donation appointment today through our website, by downloading the NHS Give Blood app or calling 0300 123 23 23.