New and existing blood donors are being urged to donate at London’s donor centres because stocks are running low.

NHS Blood and Transplant have said the blood donations during the autumn are below expected levels.

There is a need for all donors, but particularly donors with O positive and B positive blood. 

Donations are needed at the city’s donor centres and numerous appointments are available.

Over the next four weeks, there are:

• 449 appointments available at Tooting donor centre

• 1,216 appointments available at Edgware donor centre

• 1,960 appointments available at The Royal College of Nursing (temporary venue while the West End Donor Centre is closed during refurbishment)

Mike Stredder, NHS Blood and Transplant Director of Blood Donation, said: “Blood stocks are running low right now. We aim to have six days of blood at any time but we currently only have around three days' stock of some of our key blood groups.

“Donations were lower than expected during September. Our local mobile sessions in community venues are typically busy but we have appointments available at our donor centres now for existing donors.

“We’re particularly keen that people who have previously donated book in or walk in because we know their blood group and we know they can donate. We always welcome new donors too.

“O positive is especially helpful and in demand because it can be given to so many people. Donations can be given to anyone has is Rh positive, which means O positive donors can help three out of four patients. Only 10% of donors are group B. It is a blood group more common in our south Asian and black donors.”

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said: “Many of the 15,000 people living with sickle cell disease in the UK depend on frequent blood transfusions to lead normal lives. We need 10 blood donors to make each transfusion possible.

“More black people are saving lives through donation. But there is still an urgent need for people in the black community in Tooting and around the country to help others who depend on a blood match with a donor from a similar ethnic background.”

Tooting Donor Centre is at 75 Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RB and is now open 7 days a week with increased appointment availability across the week. Please visit blood.co.uk or use the NHSBT app (downloadable on Apple and Google) to find a suitable appointment for you, or call 0300 123 23 23.

This article would not be possible without the support of our fantastic Community Partners. Click here to find out more.