Across the United Kingdom, blood donation services are sounding urgent calls for more donors as they grapple with significant shortages that threaten the safety and efficiency of healthcare systems. In Scotland, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) reports that active donors are 10% below the desired target, while England's NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) warns of a critical need to increase its donor base to avoid a public safety crisis.
In Scotland, nearly 95,000 active donors currently sustain the nation's blood supply, but SNBTS aims to boost this number to 105,000. The service is particularly focused on recruiting younger donors aged 17 to 24, who presently make up the smallest segment of active contributors. This appeal aligns with Blood Donor Week, running from June 9 to 15, 2025, culminating in World Blood Donor Day on June 14.
Debbie McNaughton, associate director of Donor Services at SNBTS, highlights the demographic challenges faced: "Demographically, 55% of Scotland’s active donor base are now aged 45 or over. Most of our active donors now fall into the age bracket of 55-64. Conversely, donors aged 17-24 now represent the smallest group of active donors in Scotland." She adds that while many donors give once per year, there is an opportunity to donate up to three times annually, and the service is expanding sessions in communities, workplaces, schools, and universities to facilitate this.
Personal stories underscore the life-saving impact of donations. Baby Ailsa Afrin, who will soon celebrate her first birthday, received two blood transfusions after a rare fetal-maternal hemorrhage during an emergency delivery at 34 weeks. Her mother, Eilidh from Perth, recounts the ordeal: "It was an absolutely terrifying experience, and when Ailsa was born, she had to be resuscitated. She was pale and floppy, so she was given a blood transfusion. Then she received a second one in the NICU that thankfully stabilised her. The blood Ailsa received saved her life and my daughter is now a happy, healthy, thriving 11-month-old. We can’t wait for her first birthday and I’d like to thank blood donors for making this possible."
In Inverness, young donors like 17-year-old Amy McIntosh and twin teenagers Tyler and Kaiden Martin are stepping up. Amy was inspired to donate after her mother received life-saving blood during a kidney transplant, saying, "It feels great to know that I can give something back and do a good turn for someone else out there and their family members." Tyler, who donated alongside his brother and father, reflected on the experience at the Inverness Donor Centre: "The idea that the three of us could help up to nine people in under an hour was absolutely brilliant. There’s no reason not to donate if you can. It’s a great thing to be able to do for someone who’s less fortunate than you, and you never know when you might need the help yourself." Their stories highlight the positive atmosphere and encouragement provided by donation centers.
Meanwhile, in England, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) faces a "challenging" blood shortage. Officials report that just under 800,000 people—approximately 2% of England's population—have sustained the nation's blood supply over the past year, but NHSBT aims to increase this to one million regular donors to meet growing demand and avoid a "red alert," which signals a critical threat to public safety.
Dr Jo Farrar, NHSBT chief executive, acknowledges the difficulties: "Our stocks over the past 12 months have been challenging. If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy – you’d truly be one in a million. Please book an appointment today, experience how good it feels to save lives, and come and do it again in a few months." Despite a rise in registrations to become donors, only 24% of those who registered have gone on to donate, underscoring the need for greater follow-through.
The NHS also highlights a critical need for donors with O-negative blood, the universal blood type essential in emergencies. Additionally, there is an urgent call for more black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types necessary for treating conditions like sickle cell disease.
The story of four-year-old Isaac Balmer from Hull illustrates the vital role of regular donations. Born with hereditary spherocytosis—a genetic blood disorder causing red blood cells to break down prematurely—Isaac requires blood transfusions every 12 weeks. His mother, Jasmin Suggit, a newborn hearing scanner at the hospital where Isaac is treated, shares the emotional impact: "It’s been a rollercoaster; Isaac’s haemoglobin levels fluctuate, and when they drop significantly, he becomes lethargic and jaundiced. But when he receives his transfusion, you see the colour return to his cheeks, and his energy levels soar before our eyes. It is incredible. During his transfusions, he refers to donor blood as ‘Hulk blood’ and imagines himself becoming stronger and healthier, but this wouldn’t be possible without the real-life, everyday superheroes who keep Isaac and others like him alive, thanks to their regular blood donations."
Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron emphasizes the NHS's urgent need for blood donors from all backgrounds. She states, "We are working alongside NHS Blood and Transplant to make donating blood easier than ever before, opening up new donor centres and making appointments available closer to home." This initiative aims to reduce barriers to donation and encourage broader participation.
The importance of blood donation cannot be overstated. Two-thirds of the blood collected across the UK is used to treat patients reliant on transfusions, including those with cancer and various blood conditions. Each donation has the potential to save or improve the lives of up to three people, making every contribution critical.
As Blood Donor Week and World Blood Donor Day draw attention to the ongoing need for donors, organizations across the UK are intensifying efforts to recruit and retain donors, especially among younger populations. Whether it’s the story of a newborn like Ailsa Afrin, or a child like Isaac Balmer who depends on regular transfusions, these personal narratives bring home the life-saving power of blood donation.
With blood supplies under pressure and demographic shifts leading to an aging donor base, the call is clear: more people, especially young adults, are needed to roll up their sleeves and give blood. The message from health services is simple yet profound—donating blood saves lives, and there is no better time to start than now.
