Southwark needs more black blood donors

18 October 2019

Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, has backed an NHS drive to encourage more black people to register as blood donors as part of Black History Month this October.

While nationally here has been a 29 per cent increase in the number of black people giving blood in the last three years, figures show that as of August 2019, only 0.44 percent of Southwark’s BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) residents are active blood donors. This is despite a significant number of our residents identifying as BAME.

Patients who have medical conditions that require frequent blood transfusions need blood to be closely matched to their own. Blood donors from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a match. However the shortage of back blood donors means black hospital patients don’t always get the best matched blood. 

Cllr Akoto, said: “I know the thought of giving blood can be a bit scary but a moment’s discomfort will help save lives. Donating blood is a really important thing that we can do for the health of our communities.

“We know there is a shortage of blood donors from diverse ethnic backgrounds and this has a very real effect on the quality of blood matches patients receive in hospital. It is vital that people from black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds roll up their sleeves and donate if they can.”

Melissa Thermidor, BAME Strategy Lead for NHS Blood and Transplant said: “It’s critical we recruit more black blood donors to help ill patients.
“Most people who are fit and healthy can donate and it is quick and easy to do so, we urge black residents of Southwark to sign up at blood.co.uk and book an appointment at a mobile session in Southwark.

“We thank Evelyn for her donation and her support.”

Page last updated: 18 October 2019