Highland and Moray donors needed - whether it’s blood, plasma or platelets YOU can help
If you want to give blood that’s great - but did you know that there are different kinds of donation you can make?
Every donation of blood can help up to three people in need when it is broken down into its constituent parts.
A “general” blood donation contains red blood cells which carry oxygen and are used to support major surgery, trauma and childbirth emergencies.
They are also used when an illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis or cancer, leads to anaemia, and where red cells break down too soon, such as in sickle cell disorder.
You can start giving blood aged 17, and can donate all over Scotland.
New donors are particularly welcome.
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You could also, however, become a dedicated plasma donor.
Plasma is used for critically ill patients including burns victims, and patients who have lost large volumes of blood and need to have the full range of proteins replaced.
Plasma can also be used to make immunoglobulin therapy. This is used to help patients with weak immune systems fight infection, both those born with immune disorders, and those who have developed them following cancer, cancer treatments or transplants.
In all, plasma for medicine can be used to treat over 50 diseases, including helping babies with haemolytic disease – an inherited condition which affects red blood cells.
During 2025 Scotland needs to welcome 1000 new plasma donors. Since November last year the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has welcomed 186 plasma donors through its doors, so anyone else willing and able to help would be welcome.
You can give plasma at the donor centre in Inverness as well as in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Blood donors with blood type O+, B+, B-, AB+ or AB- are being asked to think about switching to plasma donation.
Lastly, you could think about giving platelets.
Platelets are needed for blood to clot and are used when the bone marrow doesn't work properly - for example, during cancer treatment, or when patients cannot produce their own platelets.
Platelets cannot currently be donated in Inverness but can be given in Aberdeen as well as Edinburgh or Glasgow
They can only be stored for up to six days so stocks need to be constantly replenished. .
O or A type blood donors are being asked to think about switching to platelet donation.
But whatever you decide to give will be very gratefully received.
Donated blood, as “whole blood” not broken down into plasma and platelets, cannot be kept forever and SNBTS tries to maintain a stock of six days-worth of blood at all times, across all blood types.
At the time of writing the average stock level was just over this, at 6.75 days, but it is lower than that for some specific blood types - with stocks of O- and A+ at five days, A- and O+ at four days.
Highland News and Media wants to bring 5000 people in to give blood between now and Easter.
Join our campaign to give blood and save lives.
Book an appointment to give blood at www.scotblood.co.uk, or call 0345 90 90 999 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).
