The Role of Blood Donation in

Healthcare
Presented by Peter Hudson
Clinical Specialist in Blood Transfusion

WHERE DO WE GET OUR

BLOOD SUPPLIES FROM?

UK sourced from voluntary unpaid donors

Collected and processed by the National Blood Service

WHY GIVE BLOOD?

Over 35,000 donations
weekly
- 1.4 million donors
- Only 4% of people give blood

10-15% donor loss per year

-

Donors dont give every time

Constantly topping-up

WHO ARE THE

NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE?

Part of the National Health Service

Provide blood and blood products to

hospitals

A BRIEF HISTORY
OF BLOOD DONATION
1666: First successful blood
transfusion

1900: Four Human blood types discovered

1946: National Blood Service Launched

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS
BLOOD?

Transfers oxygen from the lungs

Communication System within
body
Average person has 5 litres of
blood

COMPONENTS AND THEIR ROLES

Red Cells
- Distribute oxygen and
nutrients
- Contain haemoglobin

White Cells
- Fight infection
- Several different types

COMPONENTS AND THEIR ROLES

Platelets
- Form a plug to stop
bleeding
- 5 day shelf-life

Plasma
- Carries other blood cells
- Carries Albumin and Factor
Viii

BLOOD TYPES
A, B, AB and
O

Antigens
- A and B
antigens
-

Rh Antigen

BLOOD TYPES

BLOOD AROUND THE

WORLD
Prevalence varies across the world
- B more common in South Asian people than
Westerners
- Anthropology

Some blood conditions are more common in

different communities
- Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia
- Events of the past, e.g. plague

WHO NEEDS
BLOOD?
Gastro intestinal bleeding
11%

Haematology
15%

How many units get used?

- Open heart surgery = 2-8 red cell units, 6 platelet units
- Car accident = 4-40 red cell units

General surgery
10%
Anaemia
23%

Orthopaedics
14%

RECIPIENT STORIES
BROOKE CORNWELL
2 years old has received 27 units of blood
Has Diamond Blackfan Anaemia
Needs blood every month to live

RECIPIENT STORIES
LUKE CRAIG
Involved in a horrific car crash

Internal bleeding and tear in his heart

Emergency operation 24 units of blood

RECIPIENT STORIES
MIKE AUSTIN
Severe motorbike accident

Leg destroyed artery damaged

Received 33 units of blood

RECIPIENT STORIES
AWELE NWOSU-AKEH
17 year old with Sickle Cell Anaemia

Receives blood every 4 weeks

Blood allows her to have a normal life

RECIPIENT STORIES
KEIRA
Kostmanns syndrome

Bowel removed

9 units of red cells and 7 of platelets

RECIPIENT STORIES
NISA HEYS
Has Thalassaemia Major

Has transfusions every 3 weeks

Received over 1300 units of blood so far

CAN YOU DONATE?

You must be aged between 17-65 to donate for the first time
Most common criteria we check are:- Tattoos
- Piercings
- Travel
- Medication
You will always be asked to fill out a Donor Health Check questionnaire

CAN YOU DONATE? (MYTHS)

I could die as a result of donation
I might catch something
You dont want my blood
You experiment on our blood
It hurts!
I ALWAYS faint!
I smoke and drink
alcohol

THE DONATION PROCESS

Making the call

Fill out the
questionnaire
Arrive at session
The donation
Aftercare

DONOR ETHNICITY

White

Mixed

South Asian

African & Caribbean

Chinese

Any Other Group

25% of the South Asian ethnic population

are blood group B and only 9% of Western
Europeans share this group

DONOR ETHNICITY (cont)

We need to build the British Bone Marrow Registry
British Bone Marrow Register

Some tissue types are specific to certain ethnic

groups of the population

The notion of blood donation does not enter

personal and social spheres

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE

BLOOD?
Kept cool then collected

Typed and tested

Components Separated

Banked and ready to go!

WHAT IS THE BLOOD TESTED

FOR?
VIRUSES
HIV 1 and 2
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Hepatitis C Virus (HBC)
HTLV (Human T- cell Leukaemia
Virus)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

THEY DONT JUST COLLECT

BLOOD
Bone Marrow

Organs

Cord Blood

Tissue

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

Any Questions?