The NHS is calling for 200,000 new blood donors as supplies remain at critically low levels, following an amber alert issued last year.
To maintain a safe and reliable blood supply, the health service needs to increase the number of regular donors from around 800,000 to over one million—with particular concern over stocks of O negative blood.
O negative, known as the universal donor type because it can be given to most patients, remains at critical levels, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the organisation that oversees blood donation in England.
This latest appeal comes nearly a year after an amber alert was declared in July 2024—the second time in NHS history such an alert has been issued. It was triggered by what NHSBT described as a “perfect storm” of unfilled appointments at donor centres and increased demand following a cyber-attack that affected services in London. The alert signalled that stock levels were low enough to impact patient treatment.
At that time, O negative stocks had dropped to just 1.6 days’ supply—well below the recommended five to seven days—while overall supplies for all blood types stood at 4.3 days.
Dr Jo Farrar, chief executive of NHSBT, said: “Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy – you’d truly be one in a million.”
The organisation stressed the need to avoid a “red alert”, which would mean demand significantly exceeds capacity and could threaten patient care.
Dr Gail Miflin, NHSBT’s chief medical officer, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It can mean, if you’re not urgently needing blood, that you may be delayed or have an operation delayed. But if you really need blood you’ll still get it.”
Four-year-old Isaac is one of many patients who rely on regular transfusions. He receives blood every 12 weeks for spherocytosis, a condition that affects red blood cells and causes severe anaemia. He calls the transfusions his “Hulk blood” because they make him feel strong.
His mother, Jasmin, said the “superhero blood” works like “magic” for Isaac, and the shortage is a real concern. “Everybody lives such busy lives. It isn’t always a priority until it’s someone you know or it’s yourself that needs a transfusion,” she told BBC Breakfast.
Health minister Baroness Merron said the NHS is in “urgent need” of more donors from all backgrounds. “We are working alongside NHS Blood and Transplant to make donating blood easier than ever before, opening up new donor centres and making appointments available closer to home,” she added.
NHSBT also highlighted the urgent need for more black donors, who are more likely to have blood types essential for treating people with sickle cell disease—a genetic condition that primarily affects people of African and Caribbean heritage.
Just two per cent of the population donate blood regularly—defined as having given blood in the past 12 months. While registrations rose in 2024, only 24 per cent of those who signed up actually went on to donate.
Around two-thirds of the blood collected by NHSBT is used to treat patients who rely on regular transfusions, including people with cancer and other blood disorders.
Those wishing to donate can register and book appointments through the NHS Blood and Transplant website.
