Donors have saved more than 11,000 lives in the three months since Brixton’s new blood donor centre opened, data from NHS Blood and Transplant reveal.
Between December and February, 3,773 people donated at the centre, providing more than 3,000 units of blood. Each unit can save up to three lives.
NHS Blood and Transplant today (March 28) urged even more donors, especially from the African and Caribbean community, to come forward to save lives.
More than 1,000 first-time donors chose to give blood in Brixton over the first three months of the centre’s work, providing vital additional units of blood to the hospitals and emergency services, including air ambulances, firefighters and paramedics.
Inspiring a new generation of young donors and increasing the number of Black heritage donors from Lambeth’s diverse population are key aims of the centre, and the Brixton community that helped design it.
Initial data suggest the centre is already making a significant impact by boosting the numbers of young and Black heritage donors giving blood.
Estimates suggest that, over the period analysed, one in every 10 donations to the Brixton centre was from a donor of Black heritage–more than three times the national average of 3%.
This positive trend continued when analysing the ethnic make-up of Brixton’s first-time donors. Some 15% of the new wave of donors were of Black heritage, three times the national average of 5%.
The need for more Black heritage donors has never been greater, NHS Blood and Transplant said.
Donors from Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds are significantly more likely to have the specific “Ro” blood type used to treat sickle cell–the UK’s fastest growing genetic disorder that disproportionately affects the Black community.
Nationally, more than half of Black heritage blood donors (56%), have the “Ro” blood type, compared to just 2.4% of donors from other ethnicities, so recruiting more Black heritage donors is key to meeting the growing sickle cell need.
In its first three months, the Brixton centre outperformed the rest of the country by recruiting 7% of donors with the high demand ‘Ro’ blood type.
Across England over the same period, the average percentage of ‘Ro’ donors recruited was 3%.
More than half (52%) of the donors attending the Brixton centre were under 35, compared with the national average of 23%.
The average age of donors across the country rose above 45 last year, the highest it has been in five years, so recruiting more donors between the ages of 17 and 35 is vital to ensure long-term stock resilience.
“South Londoners should be immensely proud of the massive difference their generosity has made to the lives of tens of thousands of people, in the short time the Brixton centre has been open,” said NHS Blood and Transplant director of donor experience Mark Chambers.
“It’s still early days, but to see thousands signing up to give blood, many for the first time, is truly inspiring and suggests that the innovative centre is connecting with the local population.
“Although the centre has had a strong start, the need for more donors is growing.
“That’s why I’m urging Brixtonians to follow the lead of the thousands already giving blood by making an appointment at the Brixton blood donor centre today to save lives.”
Local Ro blood donor Sarah Eve Tucker said: “If I ever needed blood I would want it to be there, so I should be willing to donate too. Knowing I have the Ro blood type make me even more passionate about donating, as I know the difference it can make.
“I have now donated 13 times and find donating blood a pleasurable experience. It is super quick and convenient to be able to donate in Brixton. I work at South Bank university and regularly encourage staff and students there to sign up to donate blood.”
Dr Debbie Weekes Bernard, London deputy mayor for communities and social justice, said: “This centre stands as testament to the strength of community and demonstrates the impact that giving blood can make.
“I know from personal experience that giving blood is quick, easy, and painless, and I want to encourage more Black Londoners to donate.
“This selfless act can help provide life-saving transfusions to sickle cell patients, as well as for use in emergencies, childbirth, during surgery and in cancer treatments, as we build a better, healthier London for everyone.”
Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England director of the national healthcare inequalities improvement programme, said: “Many people with blood disorders, such as sickle cell disorder – an inherited condition that mostly affects people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage – rely on regular blood transfusions to survive.
“This is crucial for those unable to receive stem-cell transplants or gene-editing treatment.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors, this new blood centre in Brixton has already helped save tens of thousands of lives in just a few months as well as boosting the numbers of Black heritage donors – we’d encourage people to keep rolling up their sleeves to help improve the lives of others.”
Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “It’s fantastic to see the excellent work undertaken at the Brixton’s new blood donor centre. But this is of no surprise because we know that take-up of medical interventions increases significantly when they are co-designed, co-delivered and located in the heart of the community – this is exactly the case with the new Brixton centre.”
Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: “I am delighted the new Brixton centre is making it even easier for new and existing donors to save lives. It is especially encouraging to see this boost in the number of young and Black heritage donors coming forward.”
Brixton donor centre manger Rexford Osei-Bonsu said: “We have the capacity to deliver more than 1,000 appointments a week and are happy to work round your availability, whether that’s on your way to work, during your lunch break or as you head home.
“Giving blood is quick and painless. The entire appointment takes no longer than an hour and in most cases is much quicker. The actual time spent in the donation chair can be around 15 minutes.
“Donors can only give three to four times per year, so recruiting more donors is vital to securing London’s blood stocks.
“Register now and book an appointment at blood.co.uk, on the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23”.
Brixton blood donor centre
444 Brixton Road, SW9 8BH
Open seven days a week, offering appointment times throughout the day, including evening and weekends
Opening times
- Monday: 10:20–14:05 and 15:35–19:10
- Tuesday: 08:20–12:05 and 13:35–17:10
- Wednesday: 11:20–15:05 and 16:35–20:10
- Thursday: 10:20–14:05 and 15:35–19:10
- Friday: 08:20–12:05 and 13:35–17:10
- Saturday: 08:20–12:05 and 13:35–17:10
- Sunday: 08:20–12:05 and 13:35–17:10
It is quick and easy to book an appointment to give blood. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk
