PRESS RELEASE : Mayor urges Londoners to give blood to help save lives [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 7 February 2023.

• Around 135,000 new donors are needed per year to meet demand, with donors urgently needed from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds
• London has the highest number of sickle cell patients in the UK which disproportionately impacts people of Black Caribbean and Black African heritage
• Mayor encourages Londoners to become donors as he donates at City Hall blood drive

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today called on Londoners to step forward and give blood to help save and improve lives, as hundreds of new donors are needed every day to help patients in the capital.

Around 135,000 new donors are needed every year to ensure there is blood available to patients across the country, with at least 40,000 new blood donors needed in London each year over the next five years to keep supplying blood for lifesaving treatments. Donors of Black heritage are urgently needed to help patients, particularly those with sickle cell – the country’s fastest growing genetic blood disorder.

Sadiq worked with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to host the first ever blood drive at City Hall’s new location at the Royal Docks today. He was joined by NHSBT Ambassadors Dr Emeka Okorocha and Dr Amos Ogunkoya, and Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard to give blood and encourage more people from diverse backgrounds across the capital to become donors.

While people from all communities and backgrounds do give blood, fewer than five per cent of donors in the last year were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

More donors of Black heritage are particularly required as there has been a rise in demand for some rare blood types, such as Ro, which is most often needed by patients with sickle cell. Black heritage donors are 10 times more likely to have the Ro subtype and last year, hospitals in London asked for 58 per cent more Ro blood than they did five years ago.

The situation is particularly critical in London as the capital has the highest number of sickle cell patients in the UK. Sickle cell disproportionately impacts people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage, and each month 1,300 donors of Black heritage are needed to give blood to help provide life-saving transfusions to sickle cell patients, as well as for use in emergencies, childbirth, during surgery and in cancer treatments.

NHSBT estimates that at least 16,000 more donors of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage are needed each year to ensure the right blood is available for patients who need it.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “We urgently need more Londoners to come forward and give blood to help deliver lifesaving treatments across the capital and the country. Giving blood saves lives, providing a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments. I was proud to host this blood drive at City Hall as part of my work to build a better London for all, and encourage more Londoners to become donors.”

Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard said: “Due to our wonderfully diverse population, London is in a unique position to recruit more donors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and we desperately need more Black Londoners to step forward to help those patients struggling with sickle cell.”

Director of Donor Experience at NHS Blood and Transplant, David Rose, said: “Blood donation is amazing and it saves lives, yet right now we urgently need more donors of Black heritage to help tackle the health inequalities affecting patients from a similar ethnic background who rely on regular blood transfusions, a growing number of whom are Londoners. While there has been a rise in new donors of Black heritage in recent years we are only able to provide matched blood for just over half of the hospital requests for Ro blood – most often needed by Sickle cell patients and most commonly found in donors of Black heritage – putting patients at risk of health complications in the future. As one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, Londoners have the unique opportunity to be part of the solution by becoming donors. Today’s event is a vital step in raising awareness of these needs and driving solutions between community partners in London on how we can work together and alongside the Mayor to tackle this challenge. To find your nearest appointment to donate visit the GiveBlood app.”

ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) Co-founder, Beverley De-Gale said: “Registering to book a blood donation appointment is a simple process which goes onto save thousands of lives. I’m thrilled The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is supporting such an important initiative and leading by example, by donating blood at City Hall today. I hope Londoners who are new to blood donation, in addition to existing blood donors, feel encouraged today to book an appointment to donate and continue to donate throughout the year; women can donate 3 times a year, whilst men can donate 4 times a year. Together let’s give those in urgent need the lifeline and treatment they require in an emergency or to treat lifelong illnesses such as sickle cell.”

Dr Emeka Okocrocha, said: “As a doctor I am well aware of just how important giving blood is. Blood is something we all have, something we all need and something we can all give. So if you meet the requirements you should definitely give blood as we are currently at a shortage and need more donors. It’s simple, it’s quick and it’s easy and by just giving a little bit of time and a little bit of blood you could be making a big difference to somebody’s life.”

Dr Amos Ogunkoya, said: “As a doctor every day I see the importance of giving blood. Giving blood is a very quick and painless process which can help save many lives, so please give blood today.”