The NHS says there are 2,107 B negative donors in London who are eligible to give blood at present, reports Sophie Mitchell
More than 2,000 eligible B negative blood donors in London are being called on urgently to make donations as the NHS anticipates that its supplies of this rare blood type may potentially run low.
More people with B negative blood are needed to become regular donors, and anyone with a B negative type family member is also urged to come forward, since they are 30% more likely to have this type themselves.
NHS Blood and Transplant says there are 2,107 B negative donors in London who are eligible to give blood at present, since enough time has passed since their last donation.
Men can give blood every three months and women every four months. The NHS is putting out an urgent call for these donors, as a combination of a shrinking B negative donor base and a high demand for B negative blood means stocks under pressure.
B negative blood is one of the rarest types, occurring in only two percent of the population. Patients with B negative blood can only receive B negative or O negative blood, which means that when B negative stocks run low, it can put a higher demand on vital supplies of
O negative.
The number of active B negative donors has decreased by 1,000 since 2023, falling to one of the lowest points in recent years. There are fewer than 20,000 B negative blood donors in the UK who regularly donate currently.
NHS Blood and Transplant is contacting all B negative donors to request they book an appointment at the earliest opportunity. Existing B negative donors will have priority access to appointments and can call 0300 123 23 23 if they cannot find availability.
Anyone who is aware they have B negative blood should encourage their family members to register and book an appointment as well, because they are 30% more likely to have this blood type than the general population. Any new donors who already know they are B
negative can add their blood type on registration, allowing them to have priority access.
Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “B negative donors are immensely important to our lifesaving work but as one of the rarest blood types, it can be a challenge to always collect enough.
“Right now B negative stocks are at risk of running low. With a blood type this rare, just a slight rise in hospital demand or one or two patients suddenly requiring a high number of units, can put significant extra pressure on supplies.”
England’s hospitals need more than 5,000 blood donations daily to keep their blood stocks high enough to treat, for example, traumatic injuries, cancer, sickle cell and childbirth. As well as B negative, there is always a need for more O negative and RO blood donations.
Donating a unit of blood takes just an hour and each donation can save up to three lives.
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