The Need Has Never Been Greater
The NHS is facing a serious shortage of blood for patients in need, with hospitals needing 4,300 donations every day just to meet current demand. Last year in 2024, the NHSBT issued an amber alert to highlight the low blood stock levels, warning that the NHS was only days away from severe shortages of vital types including O-negative, having an adverse impact on patient treatment. Blood shortages can result in surgery delays and leave services unable to address emergency cases.
4,300 blood donations are needed every day
to meet the current needs of UK hospitals
12,000 more Black heritage donors are needed
to meet the growing demand for ethnically matched blood for sickle cell patients who need regular transfusions to stay alive
Here is the challenge:
- The NHS needs 200,000 new donors this year.
- Over 51% of regular donors are now aged 45+, in 2023 only 2% of regular donors are aged 17–24. Half as many 17-24-year-olds giving blood now compared with five years ago.
- At least 12,000 new Black heritage donors are urgently needed for patients with sickle-cell disease, who rely on closely matched blood to survive.
NHS need new donors to keep up the optimal levels of blood supply. NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for more younger donors and greater representation from diverse communities to meet the growing and varied needs of patients and help combat diseases such as sickle cell
RMC’s “Bloody Foreigners” Campaign
In June 2025, the Refugee and Migrant Centre launched the “Bloody Foreigners” campaign, aimed to raise awareness about the urgent need for blood donations, particularly among underrepresented communities across the West Midlands. We want to educate the public, and the people we support, on the importance of blood donations and how the process works. Our goal is to increase both registration and donation rates.
Inspired by successful campaigns in Scotland and Ireland, we have been inviting our communities to join the NHS donor list and help meet rising needs. The campaign name ‘Bloody Foreigners’ was chosen to reclaim a negative phrase, spark dialogue, and grab attention. It’s bold, memorable, and relevant- highlighting the need for blood donors from migrant and BAME communities who are underrepresented in donation statistics.
Our Impact in Six Months
In just half a year, the campaign has built powerful momentum. So far, we have
Over 650
visits to our campaign page
49
individuals sign up to be donors through our weblink
25
additional individuals sign up to become donors at events
Hosted 3
Donation days of action, completing group blood donations
Attended
major community events to discuss blood donation, including a National Grid event at the Black Country Living Muerum
The campaign is successfully raising awareness, driving donor sign-ups, and creating visible participation within communities underrepresented in blood donation.
Each donation can save up to three people. Every new donor strengthens our NHS.
We need you to take action
Right now, the NHS needs more people willing to give. If you want to donate, and you can sign up and find out more about the campaign here.
Join our Campaign. Donate blood. Help save lives.
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