The NHS in London are urging people to donate plasma amid shortage concerns following the spread of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, otherwise known as vCJD.
Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) suggest there are currently around 1,900 donors at the Twickenham donor centre. Within the next year, another 1,200 are needed.
NHSBT spokesman Stephen Bailey believes ‘plasma donation is vital because it saves and improves lives’.
He says the biggest factor deterring Londoners from donating is that ‘most people don’t know what it is, and they are not sure if they can donate’.
To combat this, the NHS are running the All Types Can Save Lives campaign. This aims to promote awareness surrounding the benefits of donating plasma.
Bailey says, ‘plasma donation does not depend on blood types’, revealing that it could be just as easy as donating blood.
The entire process ‘takes about thirty-five minutes. You can even get your red blood cells back and continue your day as normal’.
Many people rely on plasma donation for a variety of reasons, one of whom is Hackney based Elsa Gavriil.
(Image: NHSBT)
Elsa suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder known as Myasthenia Gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness in the eyes and eyelids.
To help her manage the condition, Elsa needs more immunoglobin, which is only possible through plasma donation.
Elsa says that without donations she could have a myasthenic crisis. This is when the lung muscles become very weak and the patient cannot breathe.
Amanda Platt is another Londoner who relies on immunoglobin from plasma donations to manage her chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
She requires regular immunoglobin treatments to help boost her immune system and reduce her exposure to life threatening infections.
(Image: NHSBT)
Amanda goes on to state, ‘it [the donated plasma] has transformed my life in every way’.
Amanda and Elsa are just two Londoners who rely on donors, and support the calls of the NHS for more donations.
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HeadlineNHS urges Londoners to donate plasma amid shortage concerns
Short HeadlineNHS calls for more plasma donations
StandfirstNHS requires 1,200 more London plasma donors by the end of 2023 amid significant shortages.
The NHS in London are urging people to donate plasma amid shortage concerns following the spread of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, otherwise known as vCJD.
Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) suggest there are currently around 1,900 donors at the Twickenham donor centre. Within the next year, another 1,200 are needed.
NHSBT spokesman Stephen Bailey believes ‘plasma donation is vital because it saves and improves lives’.
He says the biggest factor deterring Londoners from donating is that ‘most people don’t know what it is, and they are not sure if they can donate’.
To combat this, the NHS are running the All Types Can Save Lives campaign. This aims to promote awareness surrounding the benefits of donating plasma.
Bailey says, ‘plasma donation does not depend on blood types’, revealing that it could be just as easy as donating blood.
The entire process ‘takes about thirty-five minutes. You can even get your red blood cells back and continue your day as normal’.
Many people rely on plasma donation for a variety of reasons, one of whom is Hackney based Elsa Gavriil.
(Image: NHSBT)
Elsa suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder known as Myasthenia Gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness in the eyes and eyelids.
To help her manage the condition, Elsa needs more immunoglobin, which is only possible through plasma donation.
Elsa says that without donations she could have a myasthenic crisis. This is when the lung muscles become very weak and the patient cannot breathe.
Amanda Platt is another Londoner who relies on immunoglobin from plasma donations to manage her chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
She requires regular immunoglobin treatments to help boost her immune system and reduce her exposure to life threatening infections.
(Image: NHSBT)
Amanda goes on to state, ‘it [the donated plasma] has transformed my life in every way’.
Amanda and Elsa are just two Londoners who rely on donors, and support the calls of the NHS for more donations.
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