There has been a change in blood donations, with record breaking engagement since the opening of the new donor centre. But what’s driving the change?
More than 11,000 lives have been saved in three months thanks to the record-breaking success of a new blood donor centre in South London. Between December and February, more than 3,770 people donated at the Brixton Blood Donor Centre – which The Mirror previously visited – outstripping the rest of the country by attracting seven percent of donors with the rare RO blood type, data from NHS Blood and Transplant reveals. The national average is just three percent.
RO blood is essential in the treatment of diseases like sickle cell – an inherited condition that mostly affects people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage – as it minimises adverse reactions. But it has long been in short supply.
People of Black heritage are more likely to have the RO blood type, and the Brixton centre was strategically placed to make it easier for communities to donate. The move has paid off with 10 percent of donors being of Black heritage, almost three times the national average of three percent.
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In total, more than 3,000 units of blood have been donated, with each unit saving up to three lives. Mark Chambers, NHS Blood and Transplant Director of Donor Experience, said: «South Londoners should be immensely proud of the massive difference their generosity has made to the lives of tens-of-thousands of people, in the short time the Brixton centre has been open. This selfless act can help provide life-saving transfusions to sickle cell patients, as well as for use in emergencies, childbirth, during surgery and in cancer treatments.»
The centre also hosts Blood Drive Lates – a joint initiative with the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) and the award-winning 90s Baby show podcast – to drive awareness of health struggles faced by the Black community.
Attending Wednesday’s drive, The Mirror saw first-hand the difference that the centre has made to local engagement. With music, food and games, the centre has managed to draw in a younger crowd with, more than half of the donors being under 35, compared to just 23 percent nationally.
Local RO blood donor Sarah Eve Tucker said: “If I ever needed blood I would want it to be there, so I should be willing to donate too. Knowing I have the Ro blood type makes me even more passionate about donating, as I know the difference it can make.
“I have now donated 13 times and find donating blood a pleasurable experience. It is super quick and convenient to be able to donate in Brixton. I also work at South Bank university and regularly encourage staff and students there to sign up to donate blood.”
“We know that representation matters,” said Beverley De-Gale OBE and Orin Lewis OBE, co-founders of ACLT. “By partnering with 90s Baby Show, we’re reaching the younger members of our community in a way that feels relevant, inclusive, and fun. Donating blood should feel as natural as any other act of community and care within our culture.”
It is not just blood where there is a critical shortage of Black donors. Stem cell and organ donations are also in short supply, making it hard for Black patients to receive life saving treatment.
A high genetic match between the donor and recipient significantly improves the success rate with stem cell transplants. Patients from ethnic backgrounds face drastically lower chances of finding a close match donor – only 37 percent find a donor compared to 72 percent of white patients, reports NHSBT
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Black patients often wait longer for organ transplants due to a lack of Black donors. In 2023/24 1,232 patients from minority backgrounds received lifesaving transplants, yet 80 percent of the organs came from white donors, reports the NHSBT. While the transplants are transformative, outcomes are generally better when the donor and recipient share the same ethnicity.
The success following the opening, serves as a proof that with the right approach, communities can come together to make a real difference and is setting a new standard for donation centres worldwide. Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, added: “It’s fantastic to see the excellent work in such a short period of time. But this is of no surprise because we know that take-up of medical interventions increases significantly when they are co-designed, co-delivered and located in the heart of the community – this is exactly the case with the new Brixton centre.”
While the centre has made a remarkable impact, the need for blood donors remains urgent. Whether you’re a first time donor or a regular, to book an appointment visit here
