Your Type Can Save Lives

The NHS is appealing for more people to become donors at the Reading plasma donor centre. Did you know, that The Retreat is only a 3-minute walk from the Reading donor centre at 121 Kennet Street, Kings Road, Reading RG1 3ES? This is fantastic as there are only three donor centres in the whole of the UK.

Be part of the NHS Blood and Transplant ‘Your Type Can Save Lives’ campaign. Many people don’t realise they could donate and save lives. The Reading centre needs around 2,300 people to become new donors.

Your plasma can be made into lifesaving medicines which are used to treat more than 50 diseases.

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson said, “Our amazing donors come from all walks of life, so if you’re aged 17-65, fit and healthy, regardless of your blood type you could become a lifesaving plasma donor. You could help babies’ hearts continue to beat, help to build antibodies, protect pregnancies and help to boost burn treatments.”

NHS Blood and Transplant research shows most people are willing to give plasma in principle if they have heard about it, but many people don’t know if they are eligible or worry they will not be able to donate.

Donation is similar to blood donation, except a machine next to the donor filters out the plasma. The donor then gets their red blood cells back, which means they can carry on with their day as normal. 

The donor’s plasma contains antibodies, part of your body’s immune system, which strengthen or stabilise the patient’s immune system. 

Reading’s plasma donor centre, which is in Kennet Place, 121 Kennet St, Kings Rd, Reading RG1 3ES, was recently modernised, expanded and reopened, to help boost collection.

If you’re the giving type, search ‘donate plasma’ and book your appointment today. www.blood.co.uk/plasma