The NHS is urging Black Londoners to donate blood to support sickle cell patients, as just three per cent of national donors are Black, despite people of Black African and Caribbean heritage being ten times more likely to have the Ro blood type required for transfusions. The disorder is the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK, affecting 10,000 people in London and 19,000 across the country.
Sickle cell disorder and its impact
Sickle cell disorder causes red blood cells to become hard and sickle-shaped, restricting blood flow and leading to severe pain, organ damage, and life-threatening complications. Patients often rely on regular blood transfusions to manage their condition.
Taiwo Adeleke, diagnosed with the disorder as a child, receives regular transfusions at University Hospital Lewisham's Acute Sickle Cell Unit, which opened in January 2025. She described the difference treatment makes: "Before I'm due for my blood exchange, I feel extremely weak and exhausted. As soon as I've had my transfusion, I feel like a brand-new person. The unit is so important, it's a lifesaver. Since it opened, I've not had a long admission."
The Lewisham unit and community support
The Lewisham site is located in one of Britain's largest sickle cell communities and is one of seven such units nationwide. Shorna Besa, another patient, praised the unit and encouraged donations: "I'm confident that if I have a crisis, I can go there and they'll see me quickly and support me, not just clinically but socially and emotionally too."
Besa highlighted the importance of trained staff: "The staff have built a rapport with me. I'm not seeing different people all the time and they're specifically trained to support people with sickle cell. That's what makes the difference." She also stressed the value of genetic testing: "Understanding your sickle cell trait status gives you the knowledge to make informed choices about your future. Genetic testing can help people understand whether they carry the trait, what it could mean for family planning, and how to reduce the risk of passing sickle cell on to their children."
Eligibility and call to action
People aged 17 and over who are generally fit and healthy may be eligible to donate blood. Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, said: "Sickle cell disorder can have a profound impact on every part of a person's life, and blood transfusions are often a lifeline."
Bonner added: "The best outcomes depend on closely matched blood, and Black heritage donors are much more likely to have the blood types many sickle cell patients need. I'd urge anyone, especially those from Black African and Black Caribbean communities, to consider giving blood this September. It really can be the difference between life and death." To check eligibility and book an appointment, visit my.blood.co.uk.
