England's largest blood and plasma donor centre opens in Reading

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 16:29 · Archive

NHS Blood and Transplant has opened England's largest donor centre in Reading, combining blood, plasma and platelet donations.

NHS Blood and Transplant has opened England's largest donor centre in Reading, the first in the country where blood, plasma and platelet donations are available under one roof. The 11,000 sq ft centre at Reading Bridge House officially opened on 20 October, with plasma donations having begun on 12 October and whole blood collections starting on 19 October. Platelet collections are expected to commence before the end of the year. The centre will be open six days a week.

The facility contains 16 plasma chairs, three blood chairs, three platelet chairs and three additional chairs for blood collection during periods of high demand. Once fully operational, it will offer 88 plasma appointments daily, 61 blood appointments daily and 12 platelet appointments daily. The centre is intended to be the first of several similar facilities, with Lee Wright, operational support lead at NHS Blood and Transplant, saying: 'We're looking to replicate this type of thing across the country over the next few years.'

Frances O'Callaghan, chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said the centre 'marks a new chapter' and represents 'our largest donor centre and the first in the country where our donors will be able to give blood, plasma and platelets under one roof for the first time.' She encouraged people to book appointments and noted the centre would allow donors to choose the donation type most suitable for them.

More than 5,000 blood donations are needed across England each day. Blood is used during emergencies, childbirth and treatment for conditions including sickle cell disease, thalassaemia and cancer. Plasma is used to make medicines including immunoglobulins, which treat more than 50 conditions, and albumin, used in surgery, trauma care and treatment for liver disease.

Jake Carpenter, a regular donor from Andover, has given blood and plasma and intends to donate platelets at the new centre. He said he 'really enjoy[s]' donating and has 'made lots of good friends' through the process, adding that 'it's an easy thing to do and you know that you're saving a lot of lives by doing it.' Jill Jones, who lives in Oxford and has been receiving immunoglobulin transfusions for 20 years, said the new centre was 'great', as previously her products had been made abroad.

How it is being reported

• England's largest donor centre 'major milestone'The country's first centre for blood, plasma and platelet donations has opened in Reading.BBC Berkshire · 20 Oct, 16:10
• England’s largest donor centre opens in Reading for blood, plasma and plateletsNHS Blood and Transplant opens England’s largest donor centre in Reading on October 20, offering blood, plasma and platelet donations under one roof.Reading Chronicle · 20 Oct, 16:00
• England’s largest donor centre opens in Reading for blood, plasma and plateletsNHS Blood and Transplant opens England’s largest donor centre in Reading on October 20, offering blood, plasma and platelet donations under one roof.Bracknell News · 20 Oct, 16:00

In this story: NHS Blood and Transplant · Reading · Frances O'Callaghan · Paul Gittings · Henry Firth · Ian Theasby · Jake Carpenter · Jill Jones

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem