Inverness and Moray donors sought to help save lives in 2025
If you have decided to make giving blood one of your new year resolutions, well done!
Our Give Blood, Save Lives campaign has got off to a brilliant start with almost 600 people coming forward in the space of just a few weeks to help us towards our target of 5000 donations across the Highlands and Moray by Easter.
Maybe you’re still thinking about it, and that’s fine.
But either way, did you know that there are different donations options open to you?
Giving blood itself offers those in need potentially life-saving treatment.
Red blood cells carry oxygen and are used to support major surgery, trauma and childbirth emergencies.
They are also used when an illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis or cancer, leads to anaemia, and where red cells break down too soon, such as in sickle cell disorder.
You can start giving blood aged 17, and can donate all over Scotland.
New donors are particularly welcome.
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) aims to have six days worth of blood across all blood types on hand at any one time.
As of Monday of this week the average stock level was 6.5 days - good, but it could be better!
During 2025 SNBTS aims to increase the number of blood donors in Scotland from 96,000 to 105,000. Will you be one of them?
Perhaps, though, plasma donation is something related to blood donation that you might consider?
As we have previously reported plasma is one of the elements that make up blood and is used for different specific treatments.
It is used for critically ill patients including burns victims, and patients who have lost large volumes of blood and need to have the full range of proteins replaced.
Plasma can also be used to make immunoglobulin therapy, used to help patients with weak immune systems fight infection - that includes both those born with immune disorders, and those who have developed them following cancer, cancer treatments or transplants.
Currently Scotland has 800 plasma donors with the SNBTS looking to welcome 1000 new donors in 2025.
You can give plasma at the donor centre in Inverness - or Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh or Glasgow.
If you’re already a blood donor with the blood group O+, B+, B-, AB+ or AB- you can also think about switching to plasma donation.
Go to www.scotblood.co.uk where you can find out much more about both blood and plasma donation, check your eligibility to donate and, if you are ready, sign up for an appointment.
Alternatively you can call 0345 90 90 999 from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm to talk to a member of the donations team.
