A new initiative encouraging employees to donate blood during work hours has been launched in response to the ongoing blood shortage in England.
Major organisations, including The Co-operative Bank, ITV, Hargreaves Lansdown, and Alton Towers Resort, are pledging to offer ‘Donate Breaks,’ allowing their staff time off to give blood. This move comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) continues its call for more O negative and Black heritage donors to help address critical blood shortages.
Blood supplies in England have been under pressure since July, when NHS Blood and Transplant issued an Amber Alert due to a shortage of O negative blood. This shortage was exacerbated by a cyber-attack on London hospitals, which disrupted blood cross-matching systems. As a result, O negative blood, which can be used in emergencies when the patient’s blood type is unknown, became essential.
Although the cross-matching system was restored at the end of September, the impact on blood stocks remains significant, with the potential for further shortages as winter approaches. NHSBT is urging O negative and Black heritage donors to come forward and donate to prevent stocks from falling further.
Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have an urgent need this autumn and winter to find more O negative and Black heritage donors to stop national blood stocks falling.”
New Survey Reveals Willingness to Donate
A survey conducted by NHS Blood and Transplant revealed that 43% of blood donors would be more likely to donate if given time off work. This figure rises to 65% among those aged 25–44, highlighting the importance of employer-supported initiatives like Donate Breaks. By offering staff time off to give blood, businesses are playing a crucial role in boosting donation levels.
Catherine Douglas, Chief People Officer at The Co-operative Bank, supported the initiative, stating, “Offering opportunities for colleagues to volunteer their time and give back to society can help boost morale and their own sense of wellbeing too.”
While all blood types are essential, there is a growing need for donors of Black heritage, particularly those with the Ro subtype. Ro blood is critical for treating patients with sickle cell disease, which predominantly affects people of Black Caribbean and Black African heritage. Although only 2% of blood donors have Ro blood, approximately 55% of Black people carry this blood type.
At present, NHS Blood and Transplant can only meet half of the demand for Ro blood, with the remainder needing to be substituted with O negative. This makes the contribution of Black heritage donors more important than ever. NHSBT is urging anyone who may have Ro or O negative blood to come forward and book a donation appointment.
Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, encouraged donors to act, saying, “Registering to donate blood is a simple yet powerful way to save lives, and I am delighted that so many businesses are stepping up to support their employees to give blood.”
Donate Breaks Initiative Launches at Alton Towers
The Donate Breaks initiative will officially launch at Alton Towers on 18th October. NHS Blood and Transplant will be on-site to register donors and test blood types, encouraging both staff and visitors to donate. Bianca Sammut, Divisional Director at Alton Towers Resort, said, “We look forward to encouraging as many guests and colleagues as possible to find out their blood type and start saving lives.”
Businesses taking part in Donate Breaks will ask employees to book appointments during the working day at one of the 25 town and city donor centres across the country. By supporting this initiative, companies not only contribute to alleviating the current blood shortage but can also track the number of lives saved through their team’s donations. Each blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.
NHS Blood and Transplant is urging more companies to adopt the Donate Breaks initiative to help maintain blood supplies during the critical autumn and winter months. Companies interested in joining can visit the NHSBT website for more information on how to get involved.
For individuals, the process of donating blood is quick and straightforward, usually taking less than an hour. Potential donors are encouraged to visit blood.co.uk, use the GiveBlood app, or call 0300 123 23 23 to book an appointment. NHSBT particularly needs O negative and Ro blood donors to ensure sufficient supplies are available for emergency treatments and to support patients with sickle cell disease.
