NHSBT Launches New Life-saving Hotline For Blood And Organ Donation

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 04 May 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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NHSBT blood donor staff get behind the new Donor Line number which is open 24/7 for general enquiries about blood, organ, bone marrow and tissue donation, as well as for making an appointment to donate blood, and to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

It is now simpler than ever to register to give blood or donate organs thanks to the introduction of a new, life-saving hotline that connects donors to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).

The new number - 0300 123 23 23 - known as the Donor Line - is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all calls are charged at the standard local rate, even from mobile phones.

Henrietta Joy, NHSBT's Director of Communications and Public Affairs, is urging donors to key in the new number to mobile phones and other address lists as a top priority.

She said: "We have brought in this new single number to make it even easier for people to find out about donating blood, organs, bone marrow or tissue. Now, one call is all it will take to book your place to give blood or join the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).

"Hundreds of lives are saved or transformed every day through donation. There is a constant need for blood and our regular donors are able to give every 16 weeks so if they store the new number in their address lists, they will always have it handy in case they need to contact us.

"The new number will also make it easier for people wanting to find out about organ donation and register as organ donors."

The previous separate donation numbers, 0845 60 60 40 and 08457 711 711, have both been diverted to the 0300 123 23 23 line to ensure opportunities to donate are not lost. The 0300 prefix has only been made available to public sector bodies and not-for-profit bodies such as registered charities.

Dr Howard Stoate, MP for Dartford in Kent, who has campaigned for the NHS to switch to the 0300 number, said: "I am delighted to hear that NHS Blood and Transplant is leading the way in using the new 0300 numbers. Blood and organ donation are life-saving and donors need to be confident that they can call at a minimum cost."

Picture caption: NHSBT blood donor staff get behind the new Donor Line number which is open 24/7 for general enquiries about blood, organ, bone marrow and tissue donation, as well as for making an appointment to donate blood, and to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

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Notes

1. Calls to 03 numbers should cost no more than geographic 01 or 02 calls, and may be part of inclusive minutes subject to provider and call package.

2. A regular supply of blood is vital, as red cells last only 35 days and platelets only five days.

3. There are currently 1.4 million registered blood donors in England and North Wales. 4% of the eligible population are currently active blood donors.

4. The age criteria for donating blood allows those over 70 to donate as long as they have given in the past two years. People taking oral medication for high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes, who have no other underlying medical conditions, may also donate.

5. While over 3,000 organ transplants take place every year there remains a vital need for donor organs. There are currently nearly 8,000 people waiting for a transplant operation and 1000 people a year or 3 a day, die while waiting. Potential donors are encouraged to Join the ODR and discuss their wishes with those close to them.

6. Education in schools about all types of donation - of organs, blood, bone marrow and tissues - is integral to encouraging the donors of the future. NHSBT recently issued a revised version of its educational programme - "Give and Let Live" - to secondary schools across the country.

7. The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential database used to identify those who have registered to donate organs and/or tissue for transplantation after their death. It is checked after someone has died by authorised medical staff to establish whether an individual has recorded a wish to donate.

8. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in the NHS. It is the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. Its remit also includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS.

Source
NHS Blood and Transplant

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