Latest stories

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Plasma – priceless to thousands of families

“Mom was told she had six weeks to live,” explains Steph. “That was 20 years ago. She is now the longest living small-cell lung cancer patient at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.”

Statement on HM Queen Elizabeth II

Statement from Peter Wyman, Chair, for and on behalf of NHS Blood and Transplant.

Celebrate the gift of life

More than 50,000 people are alive today due to the incredible gift of organ donation. We are encouraging people to come together to celebrate the gift of life…

In Our Blood

Over the next five years, a million new blood donors will be needed in order to meet the needs of patients.

New plasma machines

New ‘female-friendly’ machines at plasma donor centres are enabling more lifesaving donations, almost doubling the number of women who are able to give plasma…

How your blood is helping medical research into inflammatory disease

While most donated blood is used clinically, your donation and by-products from the donation process could also be used to save lives in less direct ways, such as understanding medical conditions.

One platelet donation can help up to 12 children

Nearly 70 per cent of platelet donations are used to help people with cancer. Sophie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was just two and a half. She is now four years into remission and doing wonderfully…

Session update

You may be aware that there has been an increased need for blood donations recently. A combination of hot weather, summer travel and staff shortages has meant that there is a call for more donations. If you want to help, here’s how.

Saved in the womb

When Laura was pregnant with her son, Sebastian, she contracted human parvovirus, which can be passed from mother to baby. Sebastian received two blood transfusions when Laura was 17 and 19 weeks pregnant, saving his life…

Functions of Blood: regulation

One of the key functions of blood is regulation.