Why blood donations

Every year we need around , new donors to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups to meet patient needs now and in the future. Every day we need around 5, donations to meet the needs of patients across England.

Which is why there's always a need for blood. The blood you give is used to treat critically ill patients, as well as those who have lost blood through an accident, surgery or childbirth. Giving blood is easy and safe. It only takes one hour and you will be doing something amazing.

Most people aged between can donate. Blood is made up of a number of components, including red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Blood donors play a vital role in the healthcare of patients in your community. With every blood donation, you are providing strength, hope and courage to patients and their families in your local hospitals. View more reasons to donate here. There are many reasons patients need blood. A common misunderstanding about blood usage is that accident victims are the patients who use the most blood.

Here are just a few of their stories. Platelets donation , because certain cancers and cancer treatments prevent patients from producing their own. Power Red , because red cells carry oxygen throughout the body and are frequently given to trauma and surgery patients. AB Elite plasma donation , because AB plasma is needed to help stop bleeding.

Whole blood or Power Red , especially from blood donors who are of African descent. Patients with sickle cell disease , who are predominantly Black, can require multiple blood transfusions every year.

It can be used in 18 life-giving ways — from treating people with burns and cancer, to protecting people with brain and nerve diseases. Plasma is processed to make a number of different products including: Human immunoglobulin Intragam — used to boost the immune system.

Normal immunoglobulin — used to prevent hepatitis A including for overseas travellers or for family contacts of people with this illness Hyper immunoglobulins — used in vaccinations for chickenpox , tetanus , cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B.

Anti-D — prevents haemolytic disease of newborn babies by inoculating a mother who is Rh-negative against the incompatible Rh-positive blood cells of her baby. Human albumin Albumex 20 — used to treat protein deficiency. Human coagulation factor IX Monofix — used to treat haemophilia B.

Human prothrombin complex Prothrombinex HT — used to treat bleeding disorders. Blood donation for medical research About 8 out of every 10 Australians will experience a blood-related disease at some point in their lives.

Research scientists need donated blood to investigate the causes of blood-related diseases and to test newly-developed treatments including: Anti-clotting enzymes — particular enzymes help to break down and remove blood clots from the bloodstream. Understanding this process may help to develop new treatments for life-threatening blood clots.

Platelets — investigating how and why platelets stick to blood vessel walls can help determine why life-threatening conditions like heart attack and stroke occur. Blood stem cells — create blood components such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Malfunctioning stem cells are thought to cause blood-related illnesses such as leukaemia.

Investigating stem cell functions can lead to better treatments. Myeloma — cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow. Donated blood is used to test the effectiveness of new treatments. Blood donation requirements for medical research Donor requirements for medical research may be slightly different from those for Lifeblood donors. To qualify to become a blood donor for medical research: Be aged 18 to Not taking anti-clotting or anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, warfarin or ibuprofen.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday between and 10am. What happens at my first medical research appointment? If you wish, you can receive information on the results of the research project. Consent form for blood donation for medical research If you agree to participate in a blood research project, you must sign a consent form. The exact content of the form will vary between projects, but it may be a statement that includes details such as: An understanding of the aims of the research project this should be explained to you.

You are willing to donate the required amount of blood. The blood donation procedure and any side effects such as you may be uncomfortable, and have a small amount of bruising around the needle site.