The NHS is appealing to young people under the age of 35 in Manchester to give blood. The latest call comes as new figures show that over half of donors in the region are over the age of 45.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, the number of young people giving blood has shrunk with only half as many 17-24-year-olds in England giving blood now compared with five years ago. Over-45s make up 51 per cent of regular donors in the North West.
Nationally, older people also account for 51 per cent of the donor population, having overtaken 17-44-year-olds this year for the first time since 2018. As part of its Giving Types campaign, the NHS is calling on 17 to 35-year-olds to make a ‘no sweat, feel good’ start to the year by giving blood.
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The healthcare system says donating blood is not something that disrupts younger people’s routine and “will easily slot into their lives alongside even the most committed exercise regime.”
The campaign particularly aims to recruit more donors of Black heritage as they are more likely to have the blood type urgently needed to treat people with sickle cell, the fastest growing genetic blood disorder in the UK.
Leanne Johnson, a 34-year-old marketing manager, began donating two years ago and says she wishes she had started when she was younger.
She has donated at Norfolk House Donor Centre in the city centre and at mobile sessions in community venues near to where she lives in Stockport.
Leanne said: “I had a couple of friends who were blood donors and it sounded like an easy way to help people.
“The process itself is really easy and doesn’t hurt. And if you don’t like the sight of blood, it’s very easy not to look! You can just sit back and relax.
“The staff are always brilliant – friendly and chatty. They make you feel comfortable and make the experience enjoyable.
“It’s super easy to get an appointment at one of the donor centres. I have to plan a bit more in advance for the mobile sessions but they’re really convenient.
“Giving blood is such a worthwhile thing to do. I always come out feeling positive and looking forward to the text telling me where my donation has gone. It’s a great feeling, knowing you’ve helped someone in need.”
Currently, around 408,000 of the 798,000 people who regularly give blood are 45 or over. Older donors are now in the majority in every region of England except for London.
Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Because lifesaving blood only has a short shelf life, we need to constantly collect it and need a steady stream of new donors.
“For the first time in five years, we have more donors who are aged over 45 than under, so it has never been more important for younger people to become lifesavers by giving blood.
“Giving blood feels great. In just one hour you can save up to three lives. Please register and book your first appointment today.”
NHS Blood and Transplant’s Giving Types campaign encourages people who give in big and little ways – such as giving up a seat on a train or raising money for charity - to consider becoming a blood donor.
