Northern Ireland

Blood donors going the extra mile during Covid-19 pandemic

Staff and donors work through the Covid-19 times at NI Blood Transfusion Service with the help of social distancing. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Staff and donors work through the Covid-19 times at NI Blood Transfusion Service with the help of social distancing. Picture by Hugh Russell. Staff and donors work through the Covid-19 times at NI Blood Transfusion Service with the help of social distancing. Picture by Hugh Russell.

NORTHERN Ireland blood banks are well stocked despite coronavirus pressures, with donors "literally going the extra mile" to keep making their lifesaving contribution to the NHS.

Giving blood is considered an `essential journey' under government guidelines which have restricted travel.

Paul McIlkerney of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) said regular donors have adapted willingly to changes brought in to help stop the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.

"Where before we had a drop-in clinic, we are now operating very strictly by an appointments system and all our donors are being responsible. They are ringing us to get an appointment and we are taking as few people at the actual session as possible which allows us to keep within social distancing guidelines.

"The response has been absolutely wonderful and I'm happy to say stocks at the present time are good.

"Staff have responded so well. They have the same worries as everyone else, but they are coming to work every day and doing it with a smile on their face."

The necessary reduction in the amount of blood which can be accepted due to social distancing measures has been offset to some degree by the cancellation of planned operations, for which the bulk of the stock is used.

The NIBTS supplies all hospitals and clinical units in the north with blood and blood products and is responsible for the collection, testing and distribution of over 55,000 donations each year.

The service operates three mobile units at nearly 180 locations, with its headquarters at Belfast City Hospital.

Mr McIlkerney, who has come out of retirement to lend a hand, said the mobile units are still "travelling the country", but at a reduced pace.

"It may be that it's not in a donor's town that week but in one nearby, so we're letting them know and they're literally travelling the extra mile to go to an appointment there instead of waiting for the next time it comes to them.

"Blood donors don't often get the thanks that they deserve. Even they don't understand how much good they do. Within a couple of days they will have saved somebody's life."

Donors have been asked not to attend if they are aged over 70, unwell, have had Covid 19 or had contact with someone with it and told not to travel to the sessions with anyone else.

They are `triaged' when they arrive, with health questions and have their temperature taken.

There are additional hand sanitizer and washing facilities and donors are seated separately in the waiting area, with donation beds and equipment "cleaned as necessary between donors".

Staff, who wear gloves at all times during the procedure, are changing them between donors.

The appointment-only service can be booked on 08085534653.