'My blood group is wanted by the NHS so I donate as much as I can using a special app'

The NHS issued an urgent plea for blood donors earlier this year
-Credit: (Image: Alamy/ PA)


It's true what they say: not all heroes wear capes. I'm now part of a particularly smug set of people who can legitimately go round telling people how they selflessly save lives by attending regular blood doning sessions.

I can also bore folks even further by telling them that you get free biscuits too. Yes, yes, we know, Steve, stop going on about it. It's true though - you do get free biscuits.

I signed up as a blood donor this summer. My mum was a regular blood donor for many years - but I think you have to stop at a certain age - and so I felt I should take on the mantle.

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It's easier than ever now to sign up and give blood. I do it via the Give Blood app - which tells you your nearest and soonest appointments. It also keeps track of your blood doning history and updates you on your awards.

I'm currently on two donations - and when I get to five I'll be a very proud bronze blodd donor. I will be able to bore people even more about it at that stage.

Earlier this year, the NHS issued an urgent plea for blood donors following a cyber attack which affected several major hospitals. The disruption led to serious IT issues which caused cancelled operations and tests and affected hospitals could not match patients' blood at the same frequency as usual. This sparked a national appeal for O blood type donors.

Your blood type is one of those things it's easy to forget - like your National Insurance number or the colour of your wife's eyes. But with the app you have a handy reminder - of your blood type, not your wife's eye colour - and it turns out that I'm O-positive.

At first I was disappointed by this - as it's very common - and I was hoping that I might have a bit more of an exclusive blood type. But then I found out that it's in short supply. So knowing my blood is very much sought after made me feel a bit better about it.

You can give blood every three months give or take - and I've resolved to do it as often as I'm allowed. There's usually a session nearby - but for the latest one I went to Sale FC Rugby Club which was a delightful location to donate. My next appointment is just before Christmas - meaning I should be very much on Santa's "nice list" just at the right time.

Not only do you get free biscuits - and for info, they always have orange Clubs - but giving blood also gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling of helping someone else. The whole process takes about an hour - and it gives you an excuse to put your feet up afterwards as the NHS staff are always very keen to tell you.

They also tell you not to drink alcohol afterwards - but I figure if you give bood before lunch then you can probably reward yourself with a glass of something nice by the evening. Don't quote me on that though.

Why is the NHS looking for O blood type donors specifically?

An appeal has been launched for O blood type donors because it is known as the universal blood type. "Hospitals need O negative blood because it is the most common blood type used in emergencies for transfusions when the blood type is unknown as it can be given to anyone," said Suzi Browne, a spokeswoman from the NHSBT.

"O positive is the most common type of blood in the UK so there is a big demand for it as it is used in the bulk of blood transfusions." Some people can find out what their blood type is by looking at their medical history, otherwise all blood donors will be told what theirs is after their blood has been processed.

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