Northern Ireland

Calls for more people to give blood as donations continue to fall

Independent MLA Claire Sugden
Independent MLA Claire Sugden Independent MLA Claire Sugden

THE number of blood donations has dropped by more than 12,000 in the last four years, new figures reveal.

Independent MLA Claire Sugden has urged the public to consider giving blood as donations continue their year-on-year fall.

Figures from the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, provided to Ms Sugden, showed a drop from 53,174 in 2016/17 to 40,894 in 2020/21.

"The downward trend in blood donations is clearly concerning. These donations can be critical in saving lives and also to improve the quality of life for leukaemia and lymphoma patients," she said.

"A decrease in the past year would have been expected because of the pandemic. From these figures, however, this is a continuing trend that began years ago.

"I would urge those who can to donate blood, including platelets which are an essential element in leukaemia and lymphoma treatment. Donating is an easy and painless way to help save lives."