Call for more blood donors

By Amanda Wilkins - 16 June 2026

CommunityHealth

The NHS is currently looking for more O negative, B negative and Black heritage donors to help ensure patients receive blood when they need it most.

Every day, the NHS needs more than 5,000 blood donations to help patients across the country. A single donation can save or improve up to three lives.

To donate blood, you need to:

  • be generally fit and well
  • be aged 17 to 65 if it’s your first donation, or up to 72 if you’ve donated before (or older if you donate regularly)
  • weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg)
  • have suitable veins (we’ll check this on the day)

You will have a full health and lifestyle check with you at every appointment to make sure your donation is safe for you and patients.

If you’ve thought about giving blood, now could be the perfect time to get started.

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