Exclusive:
Luke Golder reveals his near-death ordeal as the NHS appeals to fill 3,300 blood donation appointments next week with stocks dangerously low after the festive period
A father who survived after being transfused with 27 pints of blood has called on Brits to donate to help the NHS recover from its winter crisis.
The Mirror can reveal major NHS blood donor centres are trying to fill 3,300 appointments in the next week as stocks are dangerously low after the festive period.
Luke Golder’s life was saved by 27 strangers he will never meet after a mystery illness caused massive internal bleeding into his small intestines. He was losing blood faster than the NHS staff could transfuse it back into his body but after surgeons cut him open to identify the problem his life was miraculously saved after they gave him at least 27 units.
Luke, a business manager from Southend, Essex, said: “Blood donation is a form of charity like no other. Those 27 donors saved my life. I was told if they hadn’t had that amount of blood in that hospital on that day, I wouldn’t have survived.”
Christmas and New Year is always a challenge for blood stocks as cold weather, seasonal illnesses and busier diaries lead to more unfilled and missed appointments. At the same time demand from hospitals often increases as it comes at the height of winter when the NHS is under most pressure. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are the only days of the year that blood isn’t collected.
The new appeal comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. The NHS remains on Amber Alert for low blood stocks. One donation can save up to three lives.
Father-of-two Luke was found to have a rare condition called meckel’s diverticulum, where a bulge in the small intestine which was left over from his umbilical cord burst through the abdominal wall to cause the bleed. He underwent two operations and was in intensive care for a fortnight.
Luke, 38, said: “Without the kindness of those 27 strangers my wife and two daughters wouldn’t have a husband or dad. It’s the kindness of helping a complete stranger and one day in the future anyone could need blood. Giving blood is something that truly connects us as a human race.”
Since his near death experience Luke has completed rowing challenges and triathlons to raise money for charity and raise awareness of the importance of blood donation.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) stockpiles are currently very depleted meaning supplies for such large transfusions are less likely to be quickly available to hospitals and ambulance paramedics.
Blood is constantly needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery. O negative blood is known as the universal blood type because it is compatible for patients with all blood types and so is mostly used for emergency care. Clinics are especially in need of blood types O-negative and B-negative, and donors of black heritage to help patients with sickle cell disease, who need ethnically matched blood.
Ella Poppitt, NHSBT chief nurse for blood donation said: “In the week over Christmas and new year, hospitals needed 3,000 more units of blood than was collected in the same period. This increased reliance on stocks over the festive period, means that supplies of O negative and B negative blood remain under particular pressure.
“With wintery weather there is also an increased need for blood from donors of Black heritage to help treat patients with sickle cell, who are more likely to suffer painful crises during periods of cold weather. We are urgently calling for people with these blood types to come forward and make an appointment now so we can maintain stocks over the coming weeks and months.”
Donors are being asked to make an appointment to donate if they don’t already have one. First time donors who don’t know their blood type will find out after their first successful donation.
The 27 town and city donor centres have greater appointment availability than community venues. NHS Blood and Transplant especially needs donors to fill slots at donor centres during the quieter weekday morning and afternoon sessions.
To book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.