21 February 2019

A scientist at the Trust which runs Shropshire’s two acute hospitals has donated his 100th unit of blood.

David receives his medal and certificate from Genna Vernon, whose family has benefited from blood donors like David.

David Hall is a Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist with the Blood Transfusion and Haematology Department at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

He was given a medal and certificate at an official NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) presentation day to mark his achievement.

David, 57, from Wellington, Telford, first gave blood at the age of 18.

He said: “I started when I was 18 years old and have never missed a donation. This milestone represents a lifelong ambition in giving what I can to the benefit of patients in need of blood products.”

The NHS needs over 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients in need across England. Each year, approximately 200,000 new donors are needed, as some donors can no longer give blood.

David, who is Laboratory Lead for Antenatal Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening, knows first-hand from his role with SaTH the importance of blood donation.

He said: “There is a rising need for certain key blood types. Between 2014 and 2018, there was a 13% increase in the proportion of O negative being issued to hospitals. O negative is the universal donor group which can be given to almost anyone.

“NHS Blood and Transplant welcomes new donors of every blood type, but urgently needs new blood donors with O negative, A negative, and B negative blood, as these are the priority blood types.

“The NHS particularly needs more black people to donate blood. People from black communities are more likely to have the blood disorder sickle cell which can mean they need regular blood transfusions. Donors from the same ethnic background are more likely to have matching blood.”