Bank holiday benevolence

The Christmas bank holidays are a welcome feature of the end of the year, but tens of thousands of donations of blood and platelets are needed to meet the shortfall created by seasonal social plans, cold weather and illness.

As the holiday season approaches, platelet donations are desperately needed. Donations of blood, plasma and platelets often drop during bank holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day, and that challenge is multiplied by the illness, cold weather, and busy social calendar that winter can bring.

Platelet donations last for just 7 days, meaning they're needed every day throughout the year, but especially during bank holidays.

Emergencies don't stop for the holiday season: platelet donors are needed every day.

Platelets are tiny gold-coloured cells in your blood which help it clot and stop bleeding. Often used in cancer treatment, one platelet donation can help up to 3 adults or 12 children.

Although blood donations are separated out into component parts, including lifesaving platelets, platelet donations are given via a machine that separates them from blood meaning more can be given. The rest of platelet donors' blood is returned back to them in the process, so donations can be made as often as every two weeks.

More donors are needed with A negative, A positive and AB negative blood types, as these are safe to give to almost everyone and are constantly needed for patients in hospitals.

Find out more about making the change from blood to platelet donation.

If you already donate platelets, please consider booking platelet donation appointments in December or January if you are able: your platelets can be there for someone facing cancer this winter.