West Midlands residents with rare blood type urged to donate
PEOPLE in the West Midlands with rare B negative blood type are urged to donate blood during shortage, writes Hannah Taylor.
Only 2 per cent of the population has this blood type, making it one of the rarest.

There are currently 1,200 B negative donors in the West Midlands who are eligible to donate blood as enough time has passed since their last donation.

Since patients with type B negative blood can only receive either B negative or O negative blood, the shortage will create greater demand on supplies of O negative blood.

Gerry Gogarty, director of blood supply, said: “B negative donors are immensely important to our live-saving work but as one of the rarest blood types, it can be a challenge to always collect enough.

“Right now B negative stocks are at risk of running low.

“With a blood type this rare, just a slight rise in hospital demand or one or two patients suddenly requiring a high number of units, can put significant pressure on supplies.

“We urgently need existing B negative donors to make an appointment to donate and more people with this blood type to become regular donors and help secure the life-saving supply of blood to patients in the weeks, months and years ahead.”

NHS Blood and Transplant are contacting all B negative donors asking them to book an appointment at their earliest convenience.

However, family members of people with B negative blood are also urged to come forward as they are 30% more likely than the general population to have this rare blood type.

Donating a unit of blood takes just one hour and each donation can save up to three lives.

Men can give blood every three months and women every four months.