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Written question asked by Navendu Mishra (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 June 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 June 2023 (named day). It was answered by Neil O'Brien (Conservative) on Monday, 26 June 2023 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Blood: Donors

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more people from ethnic minority backgrounds to become blood donors.

Answer

The Department works with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) as it continues its work towards recruiting and retaining more blood donors from ethnic minority backgrounds. Diversifying the donor base is a key priority for NHSBT to address health disparities and ensure patients from all backgrounds can receive the best matched blood.

Work to increase the supply of Ro Kell negative blood type includes increased investment into targeted marketing and engagement. NHSBT launched its ‘Not Family but Blood’ campaign in October 2022, aimed at recruiting more black heritage blood donors and this year launched the #GivingType campaign for National Blood Week.

In addition, the Community Grants Programme funds community and faith/belief organisations to drive awareness, understanding and behaviour change around donation. More than £1.7 million has invested in grassroots organisations promoting blood, organ, and tissue donation since 2018.

Most recently National Blood Week (NBW) has driven over 700 registrations to donate whole blood from people of Black heritage. Sickle Cell Awareness Day followed directly after NBW with a further 77 registrations from people of Black heritage, nearly double NHSBT’s daily average of registrations from this group’.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
190459
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Blood Donors Ethnic groups
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk