Extra safety measures for Devon blood donors including triaging on session have been put in place to help people to keep donating as normal during the coronavirus outbreak.
An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson said: “We need people in Devon who are fit and healthy to keep donating as normal during the coronavirus outbreak. We’ve put extra safety measures in place and safety is always our number one priority. We’re now doing extra cleaning and this week we’ve started triaging everyone who arrives so only people with no risk factors can enter the donation area.
“A lot of people have called us asking if sessions are still going ahead. We need them to know that our sessions and donor centres are still open and that travel to a blood donation sessions is essential for the NHS. Blood donation is a reason to do something amazing. Blood donation saves lives.
“We’re asking donors in Devon to follow the latest advice on our website and app and the advice from the Government. We’re regularly reviewing the situation and working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, PHE, and the UK’s other blood donation services. Donations have dropped though our stock levels are currently still good because hospitals are cancelling routine operations. We need people to keep donating to make sure we can keep supplying the blood hospitals need in the coming weeks and months. Patients and doctors are relying on us to be there.”
There is a permanent blood donation centre in Plymouth at Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH.
To make appointment to donate or for more information, call 0300 123 23 23, download the NHS Give Blood app, or visit www.blood.co.uk
Key FAQ
Do you need urgent donations now? We need regular donations. We need people to keep donating as normal. That will help us to maintain stocks at good levels in the weeks and months ahead. COVID19 transmission could go on for many months.
What are your stock levels? They are good, at more than six days, which is a normal level. But we need people to keep donating to keep them that way.
Can you get coronavirus from donated blood? Do you test for coronavirus? There is no requirement to test for SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. There is no evidence of any type of coronavirus being transmitted through blood donation. No blood donation services are testing blood donations for the virus.
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