NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR BLOOD DONORS SUMMER 2012
“Every day is touch and go” DonatedDonated skinskin bringsbrings newnew hopehope toto legleg ulcerulcer patientspatients
TVTV PRESENTERPRESENTER PENNYPENNY SMITHSMITH “It’s“It’s easyeasy toto givegive blood”blood”
Donor Helpline – 0300 123 23 23 Help donors worldwide with In this issue COVER STORIES 4 “Make sure people know how easy it is to give blood” a different donation TV presenter and writer Penny Smith explains why she is urging donors to come As a blood donor, you are part of a 50 million forward during the busy summer months strong worldwide community. But in many low- 8 Aspects of blood income countries, the culture of altruistic giving We reveal some fascinating facts about the world of blood donation needs to be developed and basic facilities 9 More than just the big 5-0! provided. We need your financial donations to Lancaster farmer Tom Whitaker reached 50 donations on his 50th birthday. What’s more, he has never donated twice in the same place help make safe blood available to the poorest PAGE 4 10 Trending and tweets people in the world. How social media is helping us to reach new supporters Dear Blood Donor has been helping some of the most disad- 12 Donors do it again! You may not have heard of the Global Blood vantaged communities to recruit and retain This June saw our second National Blood Week, where we celebrated the gift of Fund, but I hope your commitment to blood volunteer blood donors. But so much more blood and recognised donors as ‘everyday heroes’ donation will mean that you intuitively under- needs to be done. To read about our pro- stand our mission. grammes, visit www.globalbloodfund.org. 14 “Every day is touch and go” In the poorest countries of the world, short- I do hope you will feel able to support our Life for eight-year-old Harry Udueni is far from simple. He has sickle cell anaemia age of blood kills large numbers of people work. and needs regular transfusions. For his family, every day could bring a crisis and what blood there is isn’t safe. Helping Thank you. PAGE 14 16 Donated skin brings new hope to leg ulcer patients these countries to establish a large pool of A new treatment for leg ulcers, made from donated skin at our laboratories, is volunteer blood donors, making them less John Armitage, MD showing huge promise reliant on paid and replacement donation, President, Global Blood Fund 19 Pass it on for National Transplant Week is one of the most effective ways to improve If you have signed the Organ Donor Register, make sure you pass your wishes on to the blood supply and prevent the spread of your family. That’s the important message of National Transplant Week HIV/AIDS. Run by blood professionals in the UK and 23 A great team! USA, since 2008 the Global Blood Fund Blind blood donor Barrie Hopcroft gives blood regularly, with the help of his guide PAGE 16 dog Marley I want to help make safe blood available to the poorest First Name 24 Unlocking blood secrets people in the world. Last Name Write and tell us Our research and development programme is building a brighter future £15 towards shipping surplus equipment from Europe/USA Address your news, views for donation £10 towards weight scales and portable donor beds and interesting £5 towards donor education materials or unusual 26 How Huw beat the odds £______We’ll gratefully accept any amount. donor stories. Premature baby Huw needed months of specialist care and many blood My cheque payable to Global Blood Fund is enclosed. transfusions. Today he’s a lively six-year-old and mum Joanne has become a blood Write to Charge my gift to Visa Mastercard Maestro donor herself The Editor, The Donor, NHSBT, 28 “It’s important we have the blood we Card No Postcode Exp Date Issue No. Colindale Avenue, need, it saves lives” Email London NW9 5BG Dr Rekha Anand, a consultant in transfusion medicine, talks Signature We may write to you about our work and how you can help. If or email about her unique role working with rare blood types you would prefer we didn’t, please tick this box. thedonor@ Plus our regular News, Letters, Q&A, PLEASE HELP US BOOST YOUR DONATION BY that tax year. I understand GBF will reclaim 25p of tax on every nhsbt.nhs.uk 25% - AT NO COST TO YOU. Please treat this £1 that I give. Ask The Doctor and Crossword donation and all future donations I make as Gift If you would like us to send you a receipt for your donation, The cost of producing, printing and posting each copy of this magazine is less than the price of a second class stamp. Aid donations. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of please tick the box. Income and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year that is at least The Donor is published by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Reproduction in whole or part is strictly forbidden without the prior equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community SEND THIS COUPON TO GLOBAL BLOOD FUND, permission of NHSBT. Larger print versions are available via the website. Design and production: Ant Creative (London). Amateur Sports Clubs that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for FREEPOST SN1457, MELKSHAM, SN12 7BR Reproduction: Portland Media (London). Printed by Polestar on 100% recycled paper.
The Global Blood Fund is a charitable organisation registered in the UK (8076380) and USA (39-2071848) SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 3
COVER STORY “Make“Make suresure peoplepeople knowknow howhow easyeasy itit isis toto givegive blood”blood”
quite stupidly overcome with the TV presenter and writer Penny Smith explains why she is urging donors to “It felt like you come forward during the busy summer months sheer technological stuff which has allowed us to do that. When and where did you start In terms of stars I’ve interviewed, were doing your donating blood? probably my favourite was talking charity thing I started donating blood when I was to Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep 19 and working as a cub reporter about Mamma Mia. Although I without putting in on the Peterborough Evening enjoyed hanging out with Gary Telegraph. A mobile van came to Barlow in Milan, and Nicolas Cage too much effort” the office and I have a feeling we was a laugh. were encouraged to give blood. You’re now a published What made you want to carry author. How does that on giving blood? feel? Weirdly, I rather enjoyed donating Having my first novel blood. It felt like you were doing published was one of your charity thing without putting the biggest buzzes ever. Penny checks in for a recent in too much effort. You had a I seem to remember session at the West End Donor bit of a lie down and a biscuit, smiling for days before Centre, London (left), then relaxes while someone else did all the and after the launch. afterwards with a welcome cuppa work. Afterwards, I was always The fact that it was a and biscuit (above) surprisingly bouncy. It seemed to top ten bestseller was for publishing it. Mind you, it was Becoming a blood donor is the give me more energy. Perhaps it thrilling. I had always wanted to hard work, because I was also easiest thing in the world - and was all in my mind, but I imagined write a book, and had started lots getting up at 4am five days a week even if you don’t do it for altruistic my body bursting with new, freshly of them, but Coming Up Next was for GMTV. reasons, you can do it as a sort of made blood cells. the first I actually finished. I will be What would you say to insurance policy. If you are ever You gave blood during our forever grateful to Harper Collins encourage others to become unfortunate enough to need a Christmas campaign last year. blood donors? blood transfusion, you are going How did that come about? to have to rely on the kindness of I heard that this year is a ‘perfect Breaking news is always exciting as LIFE STORY strangers to get you through. It’s storm’ in terms of needing blood, a broadcaster. Listening to what’s l Born in 1958 in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire a little bit of give and take. You give with the Olympics, Paralympics and going on in your earpiece and l Attended Rutland High School for Girls blood ... and take away a biscuit the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. So I then telling the viewers about it... it l 1977 – began career on the and a nice, warm, gooey feeling Peterborough Evening Telegraph wanted to make sure that other doesn’t get much better. from having done a good turn. people knew how easy it is to give, I was working for Sky News l Worked in regional TV and radio before How do you relax at the end of and how it puts a spring in your step when Tony Blair ushered in the first becoming a presenter on a busy day? Sky News when you’ve finished. Labour government for almost two l 1993 – joined breakfast show Relaxing is what I do best. Some GMTV As a successful reporter and decades; that was exciting. Then at newsreader then became its presenter as a of my favourite things are dozing COURTESY OF ITV presenter, what has been your GMTV I remember talking live to l 2006 – came fourth in the BBC show while listening to radio plays, Just the Two of Us career highlight to date? Richard Branson during his attempt with Curtis Stigers singing candlelit baths listening to That’s a difficult question. to fly round the world in a hot air l Wrote the novels opera, patting dogs belonging Coming Up Next (2008) and Presenting live during the Gulf balloon. I spoke to him as he was (2009). l After The Break to other people, sleeping in crisp
War was definitely a highlight. COURTESY OF ITV floating by Mount Everest. I can get cotton sheets and being silly. l
4 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 5 Fewer delays for donors New blood donors get flashmobbed! Thank you for your fantastic support f you have travelled to a country affected eople who signed up as Iby West Nile Virus (WNV) you can now Pblood donors at Preston’s elcome to the summer 2012 issue of The holidays overseas because give blood immediately on your return, St George’s Shopping Centre WDonor magazine. of the particular destinations thanks to the introduction of a new test. are unlikely to forget the The heavy snow and ice from earlier in the they have visited. Previously, donors had to wait 28 days after event in a hurry. As soon as year seems far away now that we’re well into our We have been preparing their return before they could donate. people registered to donate summer season. Thank you all for your amazing for all of these eventualities The risk period for WNV is between at our stand, 50 strategically commitment during that time of dreadful weather – I’m sure you have seen our campaigns over the 1st May and 30th November and affects placed flashmob “clappers” that made it so difficult for us all to get around. last few months to encourage more donors to travellers returning from USA, Canada, Italy, sprang into action, peeled It is due to your dedication that we were able to come forward – but we cannot do it without you, mainland Greece, Romania, Macedonia, off their coats to reveal maintain the vital supply of lifesaving blood to our regular donors. Turkey, Albania, Israel and some areas bright red ‘Give Blood’ hospitals. Thank you. Why not book an appointment and donate of Russia. T-shirts and gave the new those signing up as donors in During the summer, our stock of blood tends to now before you go on holiday? If you have missed The test will be carried out during the donors an enthusiastic and very the hope that people watching fall as donors set off on holiday. This year, with the an appointment due to holidays or changes in risk period on donations when less than 4 public round of applause. would be inspired to follow their successful Queen’s Diamond Jubilee just behind us, routine, then you can call the Donor Helpline on weeks have passed since the donor’s return Our spokesperson Barbara example.” and as we enjoy watching a number of large sporting 0300 123 23 23 and make another appointment. from an affected area. If you have been Blanche says, “We used the A video of the event was events including the London 2012 Olympics, we Let’s continue to save lives together. unwell or diagnosed with WNV since your surprise round of applause to added to YouTube and has been know that it is easy for our donors to be distracted I wish you all a fantastic time during this very return, please call us on 0300 123 23 23. l say a very public ‘thank you’ to viewed thousands of times. l from their usual routines. In addition, some donors memorable summer of 2012. are unable to donate for some time following Lynda Hamlyn Chief Executive Important target met Men can now give more blood Wearing our hearts on their sleeves ale blood donors can now ambridge now has over 100 give four times in a 12-month 7,000 blood embers of the Defence Medical much-needed new platelet Mperiod, as long as they wait 12 MServices Training Group (DMSTG) Cdonors, thanks to a campaign weeks between donations. This means donations every day. flashed their red Give Blood armbands as they to sign up new donors in the area. potentially 100,000 extra units of blood competed for Demand for platelets is rising, so a can be donated by men every year. You’re just as important the Brickwoods target to recruit 100 new donors was Women can still only donate every 16 Trophy at set and a campaign launched at our weeks, which works out as three times in a the annual Cambridge centre, back in December. 12 month period, as they have lower levels Field Gun With the help of local media coverage, almost 400 volunteers of stored iron than men. l Life changing career opportunities competition. came forward and 114 of those volunteers have now successfully You’re already helping us to save lives, but have you thought about The event was become platelet donors. joining us? You don’t need to have medical or scientific experience hosted by HMS Mary Townsend, pictured above, who relies on platelets to for a lot of our roles, because we’ll give you all the training and Collingwood in help treat her illness, attended our launch. She says,” Last year, support you need. (In fact, some of our donor carers started off as Fareham and donors.) We recruit to a variety of roles including laboratory support out of the blue I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, posts, drivers, registered nurses, consultants and administrators, as involved 22 crews from the armed forces . and within a week was put on a course of treatment. I received well as donor carers. You could be a valued member of our team in The competition involves strength, stamina over 20 units of blood and eight platelet transfusions. It’s easy a friendly, forward thinking environment – and enjoy a great range and teamwork – and manhandling several to assume that blood and platelets are only given to people in of NHS benefits too. tonnes of heavy artillery. NHSBT didn’t tackle emergency situations, in surgery or who are anaemic, but in fact So take a look at our website to see what you could do: the course, but we were there on the day to mostly they are given to cancer patients. I never knew that I’d www.nhsbtcareers.co.uk encourage new donors. We were also busy before hand, spreading the donation message need platelets, but because of other people’s generosity, I am alive Saving lives together and well today.” l and signing up new donors. l
6 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 7 DID YOU KNOW? AspectsAspects ofof bloodblood We reveal some fascinating facts about the world of blood donation
• Some amazing facts about our contain copper which gives it a blue donors - 11,000 of you have been appearance. donating for at least 30 years and • An average person has 20 - 30 almost 3,000 have been donating trillion blood cells in their body. for more than 40 years. About 200 • About 5 per cent of Americans people have been donating for 50 have AB blood – including historical years or more. fi gures John F Kennedy and Marilyn • In 2011 nearly 4,000 donors Monroe. donated blood on their birthday, • If you laid all the tubing from all with 58 giving their fi rst donation the blood packs used in one year end on their 17th birthday - the fi rst to end, it would stretch from London to day they were able to give blood. Vancouver - over 4,700 miles. • NHSBT drivers travel over 8 million miles each year to carry Meanwhile, in other more than 2 million units of blood countries... to hospitals up and down the country. • In Denmark, some parts of the • Men can now donate blood more USA and Czech Republic, donors frequently than women – up to four are offered beer after donating. In times a year rather than three. Ireland, Guinness was offered to • Last year, 450,000 donors made all donors, but this practice was their appointment online via stopped in 2009. Tom with his wife Valerie www.blood.co.uk. • The world record for the • Only identical twins have exactly largest blood donation session was FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF the same blood group. in Mumbai in April 2010 when over • Every cubic millimetre of blood 25,000 donations were made in one More than just the big 5-0! day – that’s the equivalent of about contains 5-6 million red blood cells. Tom Whitaker, from Lancaster, fi rst gave blood aged 18 with the farmer he was four days’ worth of donations for • Blood makes up around 7 per working for. Now 50 and running his own farm, he reached 50 donations on his NHSBT. cent of the weight of a human body. 50th birthday. And the father-of-three has given blood in a different location • It would take 500 red blood cells • In Russia, more than half of blood across the North West each time. “The fi rst four times I gave in different places by stacked on top of one another to donors are paid for the donations accident; I just carried on,” he says. “You are always busy on the farm, it’s diffi cult reach a height of 1mm. they give – they receive the to leave unless you have an excuse. Donating blood is a good thing to do but it equivalent of around £20. • People and other mammals have red also gives my wife and me a chance to get away - we turn it into a day out.” blood. But insects have yellow blood, • In Paraguay, South America, Tom and wife Valerie have travelled as far north as Penrith and Carlisle and and lobsters have blue blood as their the act of duelling is still legal - as far south as Glossop and Chester. The furthest west is Barrow-in-Furness and blood doesn’t contain haemoglobin, provided that the participants are Blackpool and in the east they have got as far as Huddersfi eld and Bradford.l l the red pigment in blood, but does registered blood donors! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY NATIONAL
8 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 9 DIGITAL UPDATE
Our blood donation Facebook page has recently supported the Social Media Award TrendingTrending andand tweetstweets ‘Body Art-ery’ PR activity to kick- start our summer drive to build up Our social media campaign for How social media is helping us to reach new supporters National Blood Week 2011 was “Our blood page victorious in the ‘Best use of ocial media is proving to Social Media’ category at the be one of the fastest on Facebook now Performance Marketing Awards in Sgrowing ways for us to has the largest May 2012. reach our supporters. So we The award was in recognition of were delighted to begin a new following for any the successful integration of the partnership with Facebook with a campaign within our Facebook and Twitter presence. The campaign view to encouraging more people blood donation generated significant support on our Facebook page, which had been to sign up to the Organ Donor page in the world” launched only a month before the campaign. We generated 8,000 fans Register (ODR). and hundreds of posts on both Facebook and Twitter. The initiative was inspired by sufficient supplies of blood during Our @givebloodnhs account was trending on Twitter in London Mark Zuckerberg’s wife who, as the busy summer months. during the campaign and we gained celebrity support from people a doctor, is keen to promote the Over on Twitter, we now have such as Dr Hilary Jones, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jenny Frost and Dr Pixie organ donation message. The over 8,000 followers on our blood McKenna. l partnership was launched for donation account including plenty Facebook users in four countries – of celebrities who support the work The campaign, Team Give Blood, in Chelsea, has also supported USA, Holland, Australia and the UK. that we do and are happy to spread launched in May and our eight National Blood Week and tweeted The new option allows users to We have also released new cover launch of the National Transplant the message, retweeting or writing stars have all used social media to her support for blood donation. express organ donation preferences images and infographics designed Week film competition (read more messages of their own! promote the campaign. And last but not least, we have via their ‘Timelines’ as a ‘Life Event’ to be shared on social media on pages 19 & 20 ). We have posted videos on been working to develop apps to as well as directly registering sites. These contain visualisations of Meanwhile, our profile for Team Give Blood YouTube (http://www.youtube. make blood donation easier for onto the ODR from the Facebook key information about organ blood donation on Facebook and This summer eight celebrities, com/nhsbt1) of Team Give Blood those of you with smartphones. page. The rising online support for donation and have proved to be Twitter continues to grow and our each representing a different ABO captains Gary Lineker, Jayne Torvill, The apps for Android and iPhone this new partnership has caught popular with supporters. blood page on Facebook now has and Rh group, have been helping Twin B, Sarah Beeny and Saira Khan were launched during National the attention of the media and the largest following for any blood us to encourage more people to all talking about the significance of Blood Week and allow donors to Sally Johnson, director of Organ Facebook support donation page in the world, with give blood ahead of the Olympics blood donation, especially during find out where their local sessions Donation and Transplantation, was We’re expecting extra interest from over 151,000 supporters - and all to build blood stocks through a National Blood Week (see pages 12 are and make it easier to book interviewed on BBC Breakfast. Facebook supporters with the achieved in less than 12 months! jam-packed summer of events. & 13). Rosie Fortescue, from Made appointments. l Follow us BLOOD DONATION Facebook: facebook.com/NHSBlood Twitter: twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS YouTube: youtube.com/nhsbt1 ORGAN DONATION Facebook: facebook.com/organdonationuk Twitter: twitter.com/nhsbt YouTube: youtube.com/transplantweek
10 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 11 DONOR UPDATE 2
3 3. South Yorkshire Fire 1 and Rescue service played their part. 4. Flash mob in 4 1. Boisterous recruiting in Croydon. Birmingham. 2. The Yeoman Warders 5. The balloon release were among the first to donate in Manchester. 6. Celeb supporter to our call centre – amazing! reated to capitalise on Rosie Fortescue This special week was 2 re-enacting the World Blood Donor Day 5 just part of a much bigger C(WBDD) on June 14th, this famous war poster. challenge to cope with a year’s events followed last year’s The famous guardians of the Kingswood Choir to entertain summer of historic national events, award winning week. Every year, Tower of London, The Yeomen donors and recipients. extended bank holidays and the countries throughout the world Warders (Beefeaters), were among As a result, we had a fantastic biggest sporting event in the world organise events to celebrate the Donors do it again! the first to donate on our own doorstep. day, which marks the birth of Dr their blood in a mobile Thanks to the hard Karl Landsteiner, the Austrian This June saw our second National Blood Week blood unit, positioned work of donors, staff, scientist who discovered the ABO (NBW), where we celebrated the gift of blood and against one of celebrities and the blood group system. recognised donors as ‘everyday heroes’ London’s most iconic general public, we This year we had the challenge backdrops especially hope to meet the of a busy summer of sporting we need to make sure stocks Elsewhere, magazines featured for World Blood 6 challenge of keeping events like the Olympic and remain healthy throughout the interviews with patients who had Donor Day. Members the blood flowing Paralympic Games as well the Olympic Games. received blood or who rely on of the public living, working near start to National Blood Week - on throughout one of the most Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This With this in mind we launched regular transfusions to stay alive. or visiting the Tower were also Monday 11th June we had the memorable summers we have meant a double bank holiday, plus encouraged to join the national highest number of contacts EVER ever seen. l 1.2 million spectators and 15,000 “With the biggest Rolling up your sleeves effort to build blood stocks. athletes expected to visit London. Made In Chelsea’s Rosie Fortescue Celebration events were These visitors will have a very sporting event rolled her sleeves up to recreate organised up and down the country Building stocks over a busy summer different range of blood groups in history on our the heroic ‘Rosie the Riveter’ WWII as well with a series of ‘flash mobs” Jon Latham, assistant director of marketing and donor contact service says, from the regular UK population – doorstep, we need poster and issue a rallying cry for to entertain everyone. In Bath, 100 “This year we have a unique situation and we need donors from across the so we will need to have sufficient new and existing blood donors to students from Kingwood School in country to help boost blood stocks to 30 per cent above usual levels by the stocks of different types available. to make sure stocks come forward (see picture 6). the city burst into dance, while in start of the Olympic Games. Rosie says, “This woman clearly Leeds the local amateur dramatics Healthy stocks remain healthy Donors of all blood groups are needed to help build stocks, but we knew how to get things done, association, STAR, entertained need to increase levels of particular blood groups like O- and B- as there Major events are a distraction for throughout the and I feel honoured to become a passers by. will be people from across the world visiting this summer. Additional donors. Fewer people book an modern day campaigner for the Exeter and Croydon also appointments have been created and selected blood donor sessions appointment and they often cancel Olympic Games” national blood stock build. Blood surprised watchers, while guests have extended their opening hours to give donors more flexibility. them when they realise it conflicts supplies are vital to the health tucked into special cakes in all People who haven’t donated before and may not know their blood type with something they want to do or National Blood Week (June 11th service and every unit of blood can the regions to mark World Blood are also encouraged to help with the national stock-build effort by watch; with the biggest sporting – 17th) catching the attention save or improve the lives of up to Donor Day. Back in Bath there making an appointment now to donate for the first time.”l event in history on our doorstep, of national and local media. three people.” was even a dedicated song from
12 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 13 PATIENT STORY
It’s a very difficult condition to plan Anthony says, “Blood donors anything around, and on several do a great thing for Henry – they occasions I have feared the worst. have changed his life, really. My The disease can affect two people message to blood donors is that very differently and we are hoping it we’re eternally grateful - the blood won’t be too advanced in Joanna.” that you give directly adds value to Henry’s life.” More BME donors Promoting BME donation is an Anthony is very grateful to the important part of our work, and blood donors who help keep we work alongside the African Henry alive, and is joining us in our Caribbean Leukaemia Trust appeal for more BME donors to (ACLT) which aims to recruit more give regularly. People from the BME blood donors. The ACLT same ethnic backgrounds often are asking donors from the Black share the same blood types, so Communities to Donate 4 Daniel, recruiting more BME donors helps in memory of ACLT figurehead us to collect enough of each blood Daniel De-Gale who sadly passed “Every day is touch and go” group to treat patients like Henry. away in October 2008. l What is sickle cell anaemia? Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited condition that when other factors are involved, such as another Life for eight-year-old Henry Udueni is far from simple. with sickle cell anaemia never goes involves an abnormality in haemoglobin, the oxygen- illness, exhaustion, dehydration, or low oxygen away, admits Anthony. He and His sickle cell anaemia means he needs carrying protein found in red blood cells. It is the levels caused by altitude. A sickle cell crisis can last his wife Margaret have two other most common genetic condition in England, with an anything from a few minutes to several months, but regular transfusions to stay well, and for his family children – four-year-old Jedediah, estimated 12,500 people living with the disorder. on average a crisis would usually last between five every day could bring a crisis who does not have sickle cell Normal red blood cells and seven days. disease, and one-year-old Joanna, bend and flex, and so travel Sickle cells also die enry Udueni was just four but since he’s received blood, the who does have the disease. around the body’s blood prematurely, leading to a years old when he was brain scans have showed he’s at a Anthony says, “Every day is vessels easily. When sickle shortage of red blood cells. Hdiagnosed with sickle much reduced risk.” touch and go. One minute they can cell haemoglobin gives up This causes symptoms of cell anaemia and he now relies But the stress of having a child be fine, the next they’ve collapsed. its oxygen to the body’s anaemia, such as tiredness on monthly blood transfusions tissues, it sticks together to and breathlessness, which to stay well. There is no cure for form long rods inside the red is why regular blood sickle cell anaemia, an inherited blood cells. transfusions are vital for condition prevalent among black This makes them hard and many sufferers. and minority ethnic people (BME). sickle-shaped - hence the The genetic mutation Sufferers have a much higher name of the disorder – and responsible for sickle cell chance of a stroke and an average less able to pass through anaemia first developed life expectancy of just 42. EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY small blood vessels. These Sickle cells (pink) contrast dramatically in many hundreds or possibly small blood vessels then thousands of years ago Reduced risk shape to normal round red cells become blocked, preventing in Africa. Because of this, Since he began having transfusions, oxygen from getting through and causing severe the majority of people with sickle cell disease are Henry’s condition has improved. Henry with his father Anthony, pain and damage to organs. of African or Caribbean descent, although it also Dad Anthony says, “Before he brother Jedediah and baby This sort of blockage in a sickle cell patient is affects those from Asia, the Middle East and the received blood Henry was at a sister Joanna known as a crisis. A crisis is more likely to happen eastern Mediterranean. l very high risk of having a stroke,
14 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 15 REGENERATIVE MEDICINE Donated skin brings new hope to leg ulcer patients onated skin tissue is being A new treatment for leg ulcers, made from donated treatment often includes used in an entirely new compression bandaging and at Jessie wants to dance! Dtreatment for leg ulcers, skin at our laboratories, is showing huge promise times requires vascular bypass with amazing results. The skin is or keyhole techniques such as A 92-year-old great grandmother from Manchester has become the first made into a new type of skin graft angioplasty (balloon stretch) and patient in the UK to be completely healed by a new form of treatment for known as decellularised dermis stents (artificial tubes) to improve leg ulcers in an hour-long operation. Jessie Townley has suffered from ulcers (DCD) which is processed and the circulation. However, whilst on her right leg for 20 years and no previous treatment has worked. supplied to hospitals by our Tissue these techniques are effective Jessie, who has four children, 12 grandchildren and seven great Services department. they can be slow to heal. We have grandchildren, says the success of this operation has given her a new lease The production of DCD involves demonstrated, using this new form of life. “Anyone who has had leg ulcers as long as I have will know how of skin substitute, that we can make rotten it can be. I have needed clean dressings twice a week and that has “One of the first a difference in wounds that have meant trips to hospital. I’ve been careful not to knock my leg as that can patients to be given become treatment resistant.” make things worse and over the years it has stopped me from doing things. This is the first time that DCD has When these lovely doctors and nurses asked me to try this new treatment the new graft was been used to treat leg ulcers in the I thought it might not work for me, but it could help younger folk. I am completely healed UK and in contrast to traditional delighted with the results and I feel so grateful. I’ve said if only they could treatments, patients do not have to do something for my knees I could go out dancing!” l within ten weeks, be admitted to hospital or undergo and many others an anaesthetic. DCD application prepared wound bed. DCD comes process. After a week the dressing takes no longer than an hour and is as a 5x5cm sheet that is specially is removed and the leg is dressed in treated are showing relatively painless. cut to fit the outline of the ulcer. a conventional manner to continue good progress” Surface tension and a little skin glue the healing process. Patients are The process is all that is used to keep the graft monitored each week to assess removing the donors’ cells from The process is quite technical. First, in place. how the ulcer is healing. the skin, leaving a ‘decellularised’ the patient’s wound is cleaned and A special dressing is then placed Dr Richard Lomas of NHSBT tissue which will not be rejected any unhealthy tissue removed using over the graft, which then has says, “Decellularised dermis has when implanted into a patient. a high pressure water spray, to leave all the air sucked out of it using a great potential in the development Traditional treatment for a severe a healthy base that will aid healing. small pump. This creates a negative of other patient therapies. We ulcer involves grafting skin from This innovative method of wound pressure over the wound, and are currently looking at other another site on the patient’s body which the patient’s own cells grow, Left to right: Dr Akila preparation is relatively painless. sucks the patient’s blood and cells applications for this graft, such onto the ulcer, which is both painful helping the ulcer to heal up properly. Chandrasekar, Dr Richard Lomas, The DCD is then applied onto the into the graft, to start the healing as shoulder surgery and in the and requires a second operation to Leg ulcers are unpleasant and Jessie’s son David Townley, treatment of burns.” Chief Medical remove the skin graft. painful and can make patients’ Ardeshir Bayat and Mo Baguneid Officer, Dame Sally Davies, adds, lives a misery. They can become from UHSM and Jessie at the front! Did you know? “Leg ulcers are very a painful and Patient assessment severely infected, and even lead to within ten weeks, and many of the debilitating condition and can be • It’s estimated that one in a hundred people develop ulcers at some A clinical evaluation set up with a patient’s leg being amputated. other patients treated are showing difficult to treat. I am delighted that point in their lives, and the cost to the NHS is around £1billion a year. the University Hospital South The current evaluation involved 20 good progress. this further example of the NHS • As many as 50 people can be helped from one organ and tissue donor. Manchester (UHSM) is now patients, all of whom suffer from UHSM’s Professor Mo Baguneid, delivering remarkable innovation, • Skin is mainly used as a natural dressing, to treat people with serious assessing this new graft for the chronic, long-term ulcers that have who carried out the operations, supported by the Government’s burns. This can save lives by stopping infections as well as reducing treatment of chronic, non-healing resisted traditional treatments. One believes that DCD could have on going support for research, is scarring and pain. leg ulcers. DCD works by providing of the first patients to be given the applications for other vascular ultimately transformed into real • NHSBT Tissue Services is the UK’s largest multi tissue banking organisation. the wound with a ‘scaffold’ into new graft was completely healed wounds. He says, “Conventional benefits for patients.”l
16 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 17 ORGAN DONOR UPDATE PassPass itit onon forfor NationalNational TransplantTransplant WeekWeek
e know that most If you have signed the Organ Donor Register, families would agree make sure you pass your wishes on to Wto organ donation if your family. That’s the important message of they knew that it was their loved one’s wish. In fact over 90 per cent National Transplant Week (9-15th July) of families will agree to donation if a loved one has joined the Organ Donor Register (ODR) AND has discussed their wishes. However, “It is important to both register and tell your family that you would like your organs to be donated after your death. This will help enormously in making them feel comfortable about giving consent”
this drops to around 40 per cent if people have not signed up to the register and have not told their family of their donation wishes. The large difference in these figures shows how important it Visit the website to register and believe that if they have signed is both to register and tell your remember to tell your family the ODR then donation will family that you would like your automatically take place. But organs to be donated after your about allowing your organs to be this is a myth. Families are of death. This will help enormously donated. course encouraged to accept the in making them feel comfortable Unfortunately, many people deceased’s wishes and it will be
SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 19
Page:1 OVER TO YOU made clear by the NHS staff that the anyone wanting to support the ★★★★★★★★★★★★★ STAR LETTER ★★★★★★★★★★★★★ family do not have the legal right to cause of organ donation. The site overrule those wishes. However, it’s also provides latest statistics, real Dramatic birth turns dad into a donor A Star Letter is very unlikely that donation will go Pass life case studies of people who have chosen for every issue. ahead without the full approval of been affected by organ donation, I donated as regularly as I could from my teens and tried to encourage David, The winner will be the family. it and news of local campaign activity my husband, to come along to donate, but the very thought made him feel ill. invited to a behind-the The sad consequence of refusing On taking place during National -scenes tour of a Blood Then last year, due to complications in pregnancy, Centre. He or she will permission for the organs to be NATIONAL Transplant Week. I gave birth to our twins eight weeks early. don a white coat and donated is that fewer organs are TRANSPLANT You can also catch up on the Our sons and I both received blood transfusions see what happens to a available for those in desperate W E E K 9 - 1 5 latest news and developments (thank you!) and I am no longer able to donate. donation of blood. (You need. Currently about 1,000 J U L Y 2 0 1 2 on National Transplant Week However, David has now donated several times must be 16 or over.) people a year – that’s three a day – through our Facebook page (www. and will continue to do so, in thanks for our life changing die as a result of organ shortages. facebook.com/organdonationuk) transfusions. I wanted to write in to say, well done David, we are As ever, we hope to change this and and Twitter (www.twitter.com/ very proud of you! give hope to those on the waiting work showcased in the lead up to nhsbt) sites. You can support us LYNDSAY CECIL, BY EMAIL list, and National Transplant Week, National Transplant Week, July by re-tweeting our messages, and EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Thank you for sharing your story with us. Well done to David for overcoming running from 9th to 15th July, is the 9th – 15th. All the shortlisted fi lms spreading the word to your friends his fear and becoming a donor. perfect opportunity to highlight the are available to view via a link on to think about organ donation. urgent need for more donors. our campaign specifi c website We would love to hear any of ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ As part of our campaign to raise www.transplantweek.co.uk your transplant stories. The wider awareness, we launched a national the message travels, the more This is your chance to tell part of Kathmandu (Nepal’s A 75th celebration to fi lm competition, asking students, Get involved hope there is for the 7,500 people us your news, views and capital), to a Red Cross centre, remember amateur fi lm faculties and our If you want to fi nd out more about waiting for a transplant to save or interesting or unusual where my blood was taken. The I have recently reached and supporters to create their own our campaign or get involved, visit transform their lives. So if you have donor stories. Write to staff there also took donations from surpassed my 75th donation, and I two to three minute fi lm exploring www.transplantweek.co.uk. a story to share or if there is activity The Editor, The Donor, my husband and friend. There was just wanted to say what a fabulous NHSBT Colindale Avenue, the issues of organ donation. The planned in your area for National no voluntary donation service in The site contains lots of helpful London NW9 5BG time my wife and I had at the awards winner receives £1,000 worth of information as well as an electronic Transplant Week, simply email us at or email Nepal back then. ceremony for longstanding donors, fi lm equipment and will have their action pack which offers tools to [email protected]. l [email protected] My blood was needed for a child held in Bexleyheath last November. who’d had a very bad accident The venue and food were great, An unexpected donation and the family, who had travelled and everything was superbly World donation experts meet Some years ago I was on holiday in for many miles, had nobody they organised down to the tiniest Back in March, world experts on donation and religious leaders representing Buddhism, Hinduism, Nepal and a young woman came could ask to donate for him. The detail. The presentations were fun, transplantation met to discuss advances in organ Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Sikhism to my hotel asking if anyone was following day we visited the little emotional and informative and I donation, share experience and practice and identify discussed the social, cultural and ethnic infl uences blood group O Rh positive. I said boy in hospital and were told he believe everyone there had a really how we could reach our target of a 50 per cent on deceased donation, which is donation after I was and volunteered to give a was likely to make a good recovery. good time. I would thoroughly increase in deceased organ donation by 2013. death, in the UK. They also helped us to launch our donation, along with my husband The hospital had little or no medical recommend other donors who Also on the agenda were issues such as how to new religious belief leafl ets, which are available to and a friend. supplies, so before returning home reach their 75th to go to their local encourage more families to agree to donation and download from www.organdonation.nhs.uk. I have to confess that when we we left them our meagre travel ceremony when they are invited. how more donations could be made from hospital Sally Johnson, director of Organ Donation and arrived at the hospital I was thinking medical kits for which they were JEREMY KIRK, BY EMAIL emergency departments. Transplantation says, “This is the fi rst time that of ways to retract my offer. The very grateful. EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Thank you for Experts from Canada and Spain, which has the representatives from all the major religions have met patients were either lying on bare MARION PARKIN, BY EMAIL your kind words. We are glad you highest rate of organ donation in the world, shared to discuss organ donation. It is hoped this event will beds or on the fl oor. Any bedding EDITOR’S RESPONSE: It is amazing that enjoyed the ceremony; we also their international experiences of increasing rates of help develop links between faith leaders and NHSBT they had was dirty and I was you have seen fi rst hand how appreciate the chance to meet consent to organ donation. and assist in dispelling any myths and concerns that worried about hygiene. blood donations save lives. Well and thank so many wonderful At the end of the two day event, a panel of people in these communities may have.” l I need not have worried. We done to you all for helping the donors like you who spend a were sent with a guide to another little boy. lifetime helping others.
20 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 21 OVER TO YOU
Honey helps out Well done to you both. I would like to send grateful thanks I don’t know if you would be to the very professional team in interested in hearing about my Happy to go on giving Southampton and also to my lovely retired racing greyhound I have been donating blood since employers, Toll Global Forwarding called Honey. We both gave blood 1985 and am delighted to report Group, who allow me the time in November - I donated at my local that having reached 200 whole off to make these very important session and Honey donated for blood and platelet donations I shall donations. the Pet Blood Bank at Greyhound carry on until somebody tells me CHRIS COX, BY EMAIL Lifeline (it was her second time) and not to - and then I shall argue with EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Well done Chris her blood helped up to four critically them about it!! on reaching this milestone and injured dogs. Having completed about 30 or so thank you for your commitment TRISH ECKETT, BY EMAIL whole blood donations I was invited to helping save lives. It’s great EDITOR’S RESPONSE: What a heart- to try out for platelet donation that your employer allows you warming story. It’s lovely to hear and am now make a monthly the time to donate, so well done that your dog is helping to save pilgrimage up to the Donor Suite in to them. l the lives of other greyhounds. Southampton as a platelet donor. IS IT TRUE THAT… We reply to some of your questions about donating
I understand that there was a Please be assured we are working Is any use made of the white Qfilm competition for National towards making DHC questionnaires Qblood cells removed from blood Transplant Week? Can I still view the available online, as we do appreciate donations? I remember reading that films? If so, where? this will save time and money. in a healthy individual the white blood The closing date to vote for your I was really pleased to be given cells are responsible for destroying Afavourite film in the competition Qa pen as an award for my 50th cancerous body cells. was June 29th. However, you can still donation, and I have been using it If this is correct, have any trials view the films at www.youtube.com/ ever since. I now need a refill, can you been made of giving cancer patients transplantweek so please have a look suggest where I can find one. healthy white cell donations between FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF and choose your favourite film. I’m afraid that refills for these the usual courses of radiotherapy and I receive my Donor magazine Apens are not available in shops in chemotherapy? A great team Qby email and I book my this country. However, we do hold stock In some cases, patients with appointments online and get of refills, so if you email us at thedonor@ Acancer can be transplanted Blind donor Barrie Hopcroft from Walworth is a regular face at the confirmation by email. Why can I not nhsbt.co.uk, we will send you one for with peripheral blood stem cells that blood donor session at the Hop Exchange in South London. get my Invitation letter sent by email? your pen. have been donated by apheresis. Although Barrie had been donating here for several years, he had Unfortunately, we are currently Whom should I contact if I can’t These contain some white blood cell to stop last year when Bailey, his trusted guide dog of many years Aunable to make our Donor Health Qattend my blood donor session? precursors that are useful for helping to who had accompanied him from the train station to the session, Check questionnaire available online. If you can’t attend a blood fight the cancer. sadly died. The DHC questionnaires are unique and Adonor session where you have In certain cases lymphocytes (white Fortunately, new help arrived in the form of three-year-old specific to individual donors, as they booked an appointment ,please let us blood cells) can also be donated to Marley – a golden labrador retriever who is now learning Barrie’s hold personal details and a record of the know as soon as possible so that your help treat cancer. However, it is really route from London Bridge station to the session on Southwark last sessions they attended. appointment can be offered to someone important that the matching and dose Street. Barrie says, “Marley needs to be shown the route three Before we allow these to be generated else. You can contact the Donor Helpline of these cells is correct so, for this reason, times before he can guide me unaided. I talked to the staff on online, we need to ensure all the on 0300 123 23 23. Please do not we do not collect or use the white blood session about this and donor carer supervisor Bobbie Wickenden confidential information can be contact The Donor magazine for this cells that we routinely filter from whole offered to act as an escort.” l protected. purpose. blood donations. l FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
22 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 23 BLOOD FACTS
team reported two remarkable therapy carried out at the University discoveries. They identified 68 “His team has College London (UCL), funded in Unlocking blood secrets regions in the human genome discovered genes part by us. that are key controllers of platelet Haemophilia B is caused by a How our research and development programme formation, and they discovered that are responsible deficiency in the protein Factor IX is building a brighter future for donation the gene that causes Grey Platelet for differences in the that is essential to blood clotting. Syndrome, an inherited platelet An inherited mistake in the Factor IX e have a long biology of how bleeding disorder. platelet count, gene causes the deficiency and, in a history at NHSBT normal blood Professor Ouwehand says, volume and function landmark study, Dr Amit Nathwani Wof groundbreaking stem cells reach “These discoveries will eventually in healthy people, and his team have corrected this in research into areas such as blood the bone marrow lead to better care of patients in a small number of patients. In the components, tissues, stem and engraft the NHS and beyond. They will including thousands study, spontaneous bleeding was cells and organ donation and after they are propel forward research on how of blood donors” prevented in four patients by a transplantation. All are potentially transplanted, and to generate platelets for clinical use single gene-therapy treatment. life-saving and our research and to adapt these to in the laboratory from stem cells. Professor Roberts development (R&D) programme is clinical practice. The discovery of genes underlying adds, “We are also at the forefront of this work. The second bleeding disorders will lead to better looking at the basic Currently, four important aim is to identify and affordable DNA-based tests to biology of red cells
programmes of research are and target specific AMI IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY diagnose these rare conditions.” with the aim of being funded by the National populations of cancer stem cells Coloured scanning electron producing red cells in Institute for Health Research to prevent their reappearance and micrograph (SEM) of human Individualising blood the laboratory. Stem (NIHR) and coordinated by our relapse. Thirdly, we will use the erythrocytes (red blood cells, collection cells and induced scientists in collaboration with body’s own defence systems to red) and a platelet In a programme directed by pluripotent stem other researchers. reduce the complications when genome, the so-called code of life, Professor David Roberts, in cells can be used to stem cells that aren’t an absolute has increased dramatically over the collaboration with the University produce red blood Improving stem cell match are transplanted.” If the past ten years. of Cambridge’s Institute of cells in the laboratory transplant outcomes programme succeeds it will lead to A programme of research being Public Health, we are examining and we are using One of our key roles is providing better survival rates for patients. led by Professor Willem Ouwehand whether both donor care and these techniques blood stem cells to treat patients in Cambridge University has been blood collection efficiency can be to study red cell with severe blood disorders. Stem 21st century genetics using this information to find improved by studying different production in donors cell transplants are often successful, Our understanding of the human the genes that control the basic intervals between donations. and patients.” but some fail for a variety of biology of platelets, which Professor Roberts says, “We This important reaons. There may not be are a crucial component of will soon begin to test different work will enable enough blood stem cells in our work. donation intervals in 50,000 blood Professor Roberts
the transplant, or stem cells His team has discovered donors to see what intervals give and colleagues to EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY may not graft themselves genes that are responsible the best yield of blood in different better understand the mechanisms An SEM of a human chromosome onto the patient’s bone for differences in the groups of donors. We also aim to of diseases such as Myelodysplastic marrow, or the disease can platelet count, volume and reduce deferral of donors due to Syndrome (MDS) which can cause Dr Nathwani says, “This is a reappear. All these lead to function in healthy people, low haemoglobin levels.” severe anaemia. potentially life-changing treatment poor survival rates. including thousands of This study is the first of its kind for patients with this disease and Professor Suzanne Watt blood donors. They have and will provide us with the data A milestone in gene an important milestone for the is leading a programme also solved the genetic basis we need to predict haemoglobin therapy field of gene therapy. It could have to improve outcomes of one important but rare levels in blood donors. The study Adults with haemophilia B may no ramifications for the treatment of
for stem cell transplant platelet bleeding disorder. SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY also aims to determine any impact longer need to rely on injections haemophilia A, other protein and patients. She says, “Our first Coloured scanning electron Last year, following years of of low haemoglobin levels on the with clotting factor to prevent liver disorders and chronic diseases approach is to understand the basic micrograph (SEM) of a stem cell laboratory-based experiments, the health of donors. bleeds, thanks to a study of gene such as cystic fibrosis.”l
24 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 25 PATIENT STORY How HuwHuw beatbeat thethe oddsodds Born premature and very poorly, baby Huw needed months of specialist medical care and many blood transfusions. Today he’s a lively six-year-old and mum Joanne has become a blood donor herself
oanne Weston and that they just became Jher husband Nick, ‘normal’. He was so from Stourbridge, West poorly that if he had an Midlands, have a lot to infection then he had to thank blood donors for. have transfusions. These In fact, Joanne has chosen transfusions were life- to show her gratitude savers. They often brought by becoming a blood Huw back from the brink donor herself. and saved him from the The story begins back very dangerous effects of in 2006 when Joanne was the many infections he expecting her first child. contracted due to having The pregnancy was going no immune system. to plan until August when “It wasn’t until Huw baby Huw was born after was on the road to only 26 weeks and four recovery that Nick and I Nick, Joanne and Huw are very and medically he is doing well days and weighing just had a chance to reflect grateful to donors for helping “Every birthday now. He has grown into a lively 2lbs 2oz – no more than a on how staff had helped save Huw’s life we send cards and and boisterous little boy and kilogram. to save his life and how, babies. The Dudley Borough thanks to the staff started school last September. He “The following months if people hadn’t donated Bliss Family Group meets once a hasn’t had to go to hospital for were really tough,” recalls blood, it wouldn’t have month and arranges events and who looked after over a year. Joanne. “Huw was poorly been possible to save activities for parents, carers and Huw. But we don’t Joanne says she will always when he was born and had Huw,” says Joanne. children ranging from newborn be thankful for the help Huw a lot of health problems Baby Huw was to school age. When Huw was have the same received. “Every birthday we send including a collapsed lung eventually discharged three Joanne began to give blood, opportunities cards and thanks to the staff who and a brain haemorrhage. I was Birmingham Children’s Hospital but had to be readmitted to the but has now had to stop as she is looked after Huw. But we don’t shocked by everything at the where he underwent surgery to paediatric intensive care unit expecting a brother or sister for to thank have the same opportunities to time and signed the consent form close an open duct in his heart. three more times and receive yet Huw very soon. blood donors” thank blood donors. We attended when I had to.” more transfusions as part of his an NHSBT donor award ceremony Huw had to spend five months Back from the brink treatment. In total he spent two Rollercoaster ride It could have been a very different in 2011 and it was very nice to be in the neonatal unit of Russells Tiny Huw needed so many blood years in hospital. Joanne says, “Huw’s time in story if we lived elsewhere in the able to thank donors and show Hall Hospital, Dudley, and about transfusions as part of his treatment As soon as home life started to hospital was like a rollercoaster ride world and had to ask someone to them how their blood is used. three months were spent in the that Joanne says she lost count settle, Joanne and two other local with one step forward and two donate blood.” We are so grateful to all the intensive care unit. of them. “He received plasma, women set up a support group steps back. We are lucky in the UK Over the past six years Huw’s donors who helped to save our He was also treated at platelets and red cells – so many for families with sick or premature to have access to donated blood. health has continued to improve son’s life.”l
26 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 27 MEET THE EXPERT
frozen stock to make sure we have enough when it’s needed. “It’s important we have the blood we need, it saves lives” What happens if you can’t get a Qdonation and don’t have stock? when available. If we can call a If necessary we can get blood “The donors are donor in we will, but if there isn’t Afrom other countries. We time we use our frozen stocks. also provide blood to other blood amazing, we are so Why are grateful to them. Qrare blood and the NFBB so They can be called important? It’s important in at short notice Awe have the blood we need, for a specific for emergencies or planned patient” treatment – it saves lives. The What is the National Frozen donors are QBlood Bank (NFBB)? amazing, we The bank is at our Liverpool are so grateful Acentre. In essence it is a big to them. They fridge that we use to freeze blood can be called in of specific types for patients with at short notice Dr Rekha Anand is a consultant in transfusion Dr Rekha says rare blood donors rare blood groups or multiple for a specific patient. For some services to help patients here or can be called in at short notice antibodies. particularly rare blood groups abroad who need a specific rare medicine at our blood centre in Birmingham. She to help a specific patient We keep rare blood units we might only have a handful of blood type. talks about her unique role calling up donors with frozen in case of emergencies, donors available. What is the best part of your rare blood types and ensuring patients receive the on many subjects and also counsel but they are especially used for How often is rare blood used? Qjob? specialised treatment they need donors with infections. After 15 sickle cell patients who are from Q The best thing is seeing the years, I know many of our donors BME backgrounds and often need It isn’t every day but it is used Adonation from when it’s What does your job involve? contacted when a particular blood very well and have an excellent numerous blood transfusions. We Afairly regularly so we have collected to when it is issued to Q group is needed for a patient. relationship with them. I am also always try and use fresh supplies to balance fresh donations and help a patient. I don’t deal with My time is divided between How did you come into the role? particularly interested in the area patients directly, but I know what Aworking with donors and Q of BME (black and minority ethnic) All about the National Frozen Blood Bank a difference the donation makes. working with the region’s Red I am a trained haematologist donors and patients, being from an • It currently has around 700 donations, covering many rare blood types For example in antenatal and sickle Cell Immunohaematology Afrom India. When I came to ethnic minority myself. • Red cells are stored at -80°C giving the units a shelf life of ten years cell cases I get to see both sides of departments (RCI). I am involved in the UK I found the transfusion I deal with enquiries from the • Cells are processed using a system which gives a three-day shelf life the transfusion process, the donor calling up our rare blood donors, world very interesting so decided to Red Cell Immunohaematology once they have been thawed out side and the recipient side, which is but also oversee the investigations concentrate on it. It has proved to departments and provide clinical • If we don’t have a current donor, or only one, we consider keeping quite a unique position. on patients who need these be a fascinating topic. advice to staff. I also help to look frozen units for more than ten years Is there anything you don’t like rare types of blood. I act as a link What is a typical day like? after stocks in our National Frozen • Our approach enables us to meet most demands for rare types from Qabout the job? between diagnostics and donor Q Blood Bank. In addition, I teach fresh stocks or the NFBB Sometimes I run out of time; services. We invite people who There is a lot of work involved haematology registrars and have • Nearly 2 million red cell donations are issued a year, with only around Athere’s lots to do so it can be have a rare blood group to enrol on Aand it varies day to day. I deal an advisory role on various groups 150 these being frozen/thawed donations. hard, but it’s very rewarding – it’s a our rare donor panel and they are with calls and letters from donors and committees. lovely role. l
28 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 29 ASK THE DOCTOR CROSSWORD
Our doctor, Complete the crossword. The letters in the diagonally marked squares spell out the name of Sue Barnes, When to self defer a famous blood donor. Send the name on a postcard or in a letter together with your name, address and daytime phone number to: Crossword Competition, The Donor, NHSBT, Colindale answers How often can I donate? 1st and November 30th you may Avenue, London NW9 5BG. You could win an “Amazing” NHSBT prize. Answers and the winner’s questions Q Men can give blood every attend a blood donor session as long about self 12 weeks or three months, women as you have not been diagnosed name will be in the next issue. All entries must be received by 31st August 2012. deferral can give blood every 16 weeks or with West Nile Virus (as mentioned four months. The reason for the in the news pages) and have not ACROSS difference is that women do not been unwell whilst abroad or since 5 Oddball in the When might it not be have the same levels of stored iron as your return. Please mention your pack (5) Q safe for me to donate? men. This means if women donate visit to the staff at the session. If you 6 Military hat (5) Most people can give blood all more than once every four months have been unwell or diagnosed with 8 One behind of the time. However, there are they could be at risk of anaemia. West Nile Virus then please call us on another (2,6) specific times when you should If I’m feeling unwell, but 0300 123 23 23. 9 Baby’s bread (4) not give blood, for example when Q I don’t think it’s anything What about areas where 10 Tall, thin and you don’t feel well. If you’re in serious, is it ok to donate? malaria is prevalent? awkward (6) Q 12 Disappear (6) any doubt, you can call the Donor If you have a cold, chesty cough, You should wait six months before 13 Home of Helpline on 0300 123 23 23 for sore throat or active cold sore, you giving blood if you’ve been to a St Francis (6) advice. Here we’ve answered some cannot donate. Once feeling well malarial area. Please note, if you’ve 16 Instrument for of the most common questions and recovering you may donate. had malaria or an undiagnosed sewing (6) which may help you to decide if However, if you have had a high illness following travel abroad, you 18 Lord (4) and when you should self defer temperature or influenza you must may not be able to give blood. 19 Make smaller (8) and not give blood for a while. wait two weeks after you are fully If I am pregnant, do 21 English I’m confused about fit before you donate. Q I need to wait until I’ve philosopher (5) Q the new weight rules Can I give blood if I’m on given birth before I can donate? 22 Scope (5) regarding women under the Q antibiotics? You cannot donate whilst pregnant age of 20. When can they No. If you’re currently taking or for six months after the birth. DOWN donate? antibiotics or have finished a course After this time, it is fine to donate. 1 Sea bird (4) The general rules on weight still within the previous week, you’ll Can I donate if I’ve 2 Man _____ , apply to everyone – anyone who need to wait until a week has past Q got a tattoo or semi- personal gives blood must be at least 50kg from your last dose of medication permanent make up? assistant (6) (7st 12lbs). However, women before donating. Remember, even If you’ve had a tattoo, semi- 3 SF writer (6) under the age of 20 who weigh if it’s been a week since you finished permanent make up or any 4 ______of Arabia, 14 Slow mover (5) under 65kg (10st 3lbs) and are the course of antibiotics, you must cosmetic treatment that involves soldier (8) 15 Certainly (6) LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION below168cm (5 feet 6 inches) tall be feeling well and it should be at skin piercing in the previous four 5 Group seizing 16 Drink of the gods (6) need to have their blood volume least two weeks from having a high months, you can’t donate. power (5) 17 Hungarian composer (5) checked. If it is not high enough, temperature if you had one. I know there are lots of 7 Watering hole (5) 20 Mediterranean island (4) 11 Bad traffic jam (8) they will have to wait until they are I’ve travelled to a country Q reasons why it is not 20 before they can give blood. Q where West Nile Virus possible to donate so what Is it dangerous if my may be an issue. Can I donate? can I do if I’m not sure and I’m Q blood volume is too low Yes. This year there has been a thinking of self deferring? WE HAVE A WINNER! to give blood? change to the West Nile Virus If you’re ever unsure, just call Congratulations to Ms A E Armstrong, from No. In your normal everyday life this guideline; donors are no longer 0300 123 23 23 for advice. If it Cannock, Staffordshire, who correctly answered is fine. And as long as you weigh asked to wait four weeks from their turns out that you can’t donate at last issue’s crossword. 50kg (7st 12lbs) or more, you can return from a West Nile Virus area. that time, the chances are you will The correct answer was: HELP SAVE LIVES give blood when you turn 20. If you have visited between May be able to at a later date. l
30 THE DONOR SUMMER 2012 SUMMER 2012 THE DONOR 31 Become a member of
and help build blood stocks by 30%in time for the Olympics
To find out more and book an appointment please visitblood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23
Remember, you can call the Helpline to tell us if INFORMATION you have moved house or changed employers! Just call our 24 hour Donor Helpline and staff will answer your queries on all aspects DON’T FORGET information is also available on of giving blood. our website. 0300 123 23 23 www.blood.co.uk If you are not a donor, please enrol now. Fill out the coupon below, place it in an envelope and send it to NHS Blood and Transplant, FREEPOST RRZG-KUKB-EUBE, 500 North Bristol Park, Northway, Filton, Bristol BS34 7QH, or call 0300 123 23 23. Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss SURNAME
FIRST NAME DATE OF BIRTH D D / M M / Y Y ADDRESS POSTCODE DAYTIME PHONE No MOBILE EMAIL To give blood you need to be in good health, aged 17 to 65 and weigh over 7st 12lbs/50kg. I would like to join the NHS Blood Donor Register as someone who may be contacted and would be prepared to donate blood. I understand that NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) or its partners may phone, write or otherwise contact me with details of local donor sessions. I agree to the NHSBT holding my personal details on their donor database and processing this information as necessary for the proper administration of the NHSBT. MO6