'Giving blood is important and costs nothing'

Isaac said he would donate blood every month if he could

Blood donors across London have been urged to come forward after the usual slump in donations over the festive period.

Cold weather, a rise in seasonal illnesses and busier schedules often lead to more unfilled and missed donor appointments during December leading to reduced blood stocks, the NHS Blood and Transplant service said.

The Ro blood-type, most common in people of black heritage, is one of those in most demand as it can help treat people with sickle cell disease.

Regular donor Isaac told BBC London: "It's important to me because I know quite a lot of people who suffer from sickle cell and even though I don't have it, I know the importance of giving blood and it costs nothing."

In December 2023, the most recent available figures covering a festive period, the total amount of blood collected was at its lowest monthly total since 2020 at the height of the pandemic, according to figures from the donation service.

Laura Lordache, the manager of Stratford's blood donation centre, said O-negative donations were in high demand as it was blood type often given in emergencies.

The B-negative blood type, which is one of the rarest with 2% of the population having it, is also highlighted by the service as needing more stock.

Davinia Caballero has sickle cell

Davinia Caballero, who received a blood donation to help treat sickle cell disease, said people such as Isaac who donate were "heroes".

"It takes a very good heart of a person to say, 'I'm just going to take an hour out of my day to go help somebody else'."

Isaac said he has been donating blood for 25 years.

"I'm allowed to give blood four times a year so I do that, however if they'd let me I'd give blood every month," he added.