17th January 2013
Poole Donor Centre needs more donors from across Dorset with blood groups A-, A+, 0- and B+. NHS Blood and Transplant desperately need your help to ensure they can provide hospitals with enough platelets to treat patients who are recovering from transplant operations, emergency surgery where there has been major blood loss. But they are mainly given as theraputic treatment for those patients undergoing cancer treatments. People like Jackie, who had leukaemia and needed chemotherapy. Jackie is now in remission and is living life to the full with family and friends.
Poole Donor Centre is centrally situated in Boots on the first floor of the Dolphin Centre so why not let your partner do a spot of shopping while you donate platelets? Donors who travel to the Donor Centre from all parts of the county from Sturminster Newton to Portland are sure of a friendly welcome at the Donor Centre. It only takes approximately 90 minutes to give platelets and donors can even watch a DVD or use your WiFi while donating.
With every platelet donation you can help up to 3 adults or 12 children so it makes a massive difference to the patient who needs it. Hospital reserves can easily run low as platelets only have a shelf life of 5 days so with three bank holidays at Christmas and New Year, it’s priceless. Amanda Whatley, Donor Relations Co-ordinator at NHSBT said: Please support patients on the path to recovery by considering platelet donation. If you already give blood, you can just switch to platelets if you meet the criteria.”
A quick blood test will tell us if your platelet count is suitable. Women require an additional blood test to screen for antibodies. Then potential donors would be invited to look around the Centre and talk through the process.
For more information or to book a visit to the centre, call the Donor Centre on 01202 359910 or visit www.blood.co.uk/platelets
Then once you’ve made your platelet donation, update your status on facebook, and like us at nhsblood and twitter @givebloodnhs
Help Promote the Campaign - Click here to download a supporting poster (Word Doc).