Country beats town when time comes to giving blood

Published on Tuesday 1 April 2008 10:24

CITY dwellers are the worst at remembering to give blood, new statistics revealed today.

People living in rural areas are better, but still only one-in-four registered donors remembers to go back when called.

Donors can give blood three times in 12 months, but last year 10,000 fewer Scots came forward than in 2006.

Despite 145 new donors emerging in the Lothians in 2007, donor levels across the country are at their lowest since records began.

Sighthill, in Edinburgh, is the worst part of the Lothians for people remembering to donate, with just six per cent turning up. Musselburgh is best, with a third of its donors living up to their promise.

The Scottish Blood Transfusion Service believes the gap between town and country is because many people based in the city consider themselves too busy.

But with its main centre in Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, it is in fact easier for people working in the Capital to donate during their lunch hours.

Vincent Mooney, Edinburgh donor services manager, said: "Our blood donors in Edinburgh and south-east Scotland are very committed and save and improve the lives of patients every single day.

"We find our response rates in rural areas are higher than urban ones, and we think there may be a number of reasons for this, such as stronger community feeling in the rural areas.

"We also find that we are constantly competing with people's leisure hours and there are more things in the city to attract potential donors, such as the better entertainment and leisure activities available. Only five per cent of the Scottish population give blood."

Marathon runner Bert Logan, 51, owes his life to donors. He lost nearly 15 pints in four hours at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, after being crushed by a forklift truck in an accident at work.

Mr Logan, from Prestonpans, astonished doctors by making a full recovery, and this year he is planning to run both the Edinburgh and London marathons.

Mr Logan said: "I started giving blood in 1984 after my dad had been in a car accident. He needed a huge amount of blood and it saved his life. If it had not been for blood donors he would have died.

"After my accident, I realise that if it had not been for blood donors, I would not be here now either."

Radio presenter and Evening News columnist Grant Stott gave blood last year after a transfusion van parked outside his broadcast station, Radio Forth.

He said: "It took me long enough to get off my backside and go and do it.

"We were encouraging people on air to give blood so I was under the spotlight and that was the motivation for me.

"We did the whole thing on air and it was even easier than people try to make out. I will be going back to give more in the near future."

&#149 www.scotblood.co.uk