A new permanent blood donor centre is to open in the city centre this month – a first for Brighton.
The new centre at 1 Gloucester Place will receive donors seven days a week when it opens later this month.
It will offer 1,100 appointments every week, available to book at blood.co.uk.
Brighton Donor Centre is one of three permanent centres opened by the NHS over the past nine months to increase blood stocks and donor numbers across the country.
The NHS is particularly keen to encourage students, young people and gay and bisexual men to book in – with the last group only having become eligible to donate since guidelines changed in 2021.
Donor eligibility is now based on individual behaviours instead of previous blanket restrictions based on gender and sexual orientation.
There remains an ongoing need for more donors of black heritage to help patients with sickle cell, who need ethnically matched blood. Having a diverse blood donor base helps to ensure the right mix of blood groups to meet demand.
The Brighton donor centre manager Clare Carman said: “We’re asking Brighton residents to make an appointment at the new donor centre to give blood and help save lives.
“From September, our new centre has capacity for 1,100 appointments a week, so I urge all potential donors to sign-up today.
“We need a steady supply of donations so even if your appointment is a few months off, your blood will still save lives then.
“The entire donation process takes just an hour. Each donation can save up to three lives so every person who comes forward will help us save even more lives across the country.”
After donating regularly for many years, I stopped due to the difficulty of getting an appointment somewhere I could reach easily on public transport. Am I too old to restart donating?
Healthy, fit, female, ideal BMI,Group O, 77-year-old.
Proud blood and bone marrow donor here. This is good news. Finding places has been exceedingly difficult in recent years.
I’ve got an appointment booked in 2 week’s time. I’m sick of chasing donor sessions all over Brighton and hove! I don’t know if they’ll let you re-start; I know you can continue if you’re fit and a regular donor. Their website says up to 72 for returning donors, but you could email them and ask. https://www.blood.co.uk/
I was a blood donor for many years until health precluded me. This news is most welcome but I feel that it could be more central, high-profile and accessible.
Oh come on Ann.
t’s still pretty central and accessible.
Most peopke would rather have this site than none.
This is not just about where the NHS wants a donor venue but also about landlords wanting to make their property available to the NHS and what is affordable
I am a regular donor, but for me it’s getting there. I either pay an extortionate car parking fee or £3 each way on the bus. The race course is better placed if driving because it’s free. But it’s a great location for people who live close to town or have a bus pass.
Totally agree, I haven’t usually got time to worry about getting the bus and the race hill was an ideal place for giving blood. Free parking east access. I’ve donated 22 times but I won’t be paying this grasping councils ridiculous parking fees even if I can find a spot. Sorry nhs I won’t be coming