Highlands and Moray blood donations top 2200 as campaign continues

Our Give Blood, Save Lives campaign to boost blood donations across the north has now passed the 2000 mark.

Since launching in November more than 2200 people have now come forward to give blood across Highland and Moray.

Our campaign aims to secure 5000 donations of blood by Easter and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is delighted with the take-up so far.

Recruitment and publicity officer Gillian McCauley said: “We’re delighted to have welcomed over 2200 donors from across the Highland and Moray region since the campaign started at the end of November.

“That number has included 136 new donors so far, but we’d love to welcome more.”

Donated blood has a limited shelf life so needs to be constantly replenished.

This week we reported how Highland mum Vicky McCorquodale has donors to thank for saving her life after she experienced major complication after giving birth last year.

And now NHS Highland’s director of public health and policy, Dr Tim Allison, has also given his backing to the campaign.

“Blood donation is crucial to the work of the NHS,” he said.

Ambulance dispatcher sees importance of giving blood

“It supports a wide range of activities whether operations on people who have had traumatic injury or women who have complicated deliveries or pregnancies.

“And it’s not just blood but blood products that make the difference - antibodies and platelets that help with the treatment of a wide variety of conditions.”

He added: “Giving blood is a way to support the NHS and give something back.

“Not everybody is able to donate blood, but for those who are able it is a really good way to help so many people.”

Appointments are available weekly at Inverness Donor Centre within Raigmore Hospital with upcoming community donation sessions also set to be held at: Invergordon Leisure Centre (February 18, 3-4.30pm and 6-7.30pm): the Lochbroom Leisure Centre, Ullapool (February 19, 2.30-4pm and 5.30-7pm); Glen Urquhart High School in Drumnadrochit (February 24, 5.30-8pm) and Nairn Community and Arts Centre (February 25, 1-3.30pm and 5-7.30pm).

Book an appointment to give blood at www.scotblood.co.uk, or call 0345 90 90 999 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).

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