Urgent call for 'lifesaving' blood donations from Scots recovered from Covid-19 to treat other patients

Scots who have recovered from Covid-19 have been urgently asked to donate blood to help treat other patients still struggling with the disease.

Peter Hayward and his mother Odeen.

The plasma in the blood of those recently recovered from the virus contains antibodies which could save the life of another person.

Those giving the donation must have been free of symptoms for four weeks, and feel completely fit and well.

They are also asked to get in touch withing four months of recovery, as antibody levels reduce after that.

The “convalescent plasma”, as it is known, will be used to treat patients in a major Covid-19 treatment trial called “RECOVERY”.

If successful the treatment will be rolled out to hospitals across Scotland.

Peter Hayward, 53, from Nairn in the Highlands, donated his plasma after seeing the lifesaving effect on his 80-year-old mother, Odeen.

Mr Hayward and his mother contracted Covid-19 around the same time in October, when they and Mr Hayward’s wife were living in hotels following an electrical fire at Mr Hayward’s home.

He recovered, but his mother was kept in hospital for three weeks, at times on a ventilator.

Doctors were “not holding out much hope”, Mr Hayward said, but one suggested using convalescent plasma as the best way of giving Odeen a chance.

She started improving soon after the treatment and managed to pull through.

Mr Hayward has now donated his own plasma to the trial, and has called on others to do the same.

“It was that phone call, and finding out people who had had Covid-19 could give Convalescent Plasma to help people who were very ill with Covid-19 that made me take an interest in donating myself,” he said.

"So 28 days after I recovered, I donated at Inverness Blood Donor Centre, and I’ll be back to give plasma again as soon as it’s time.

“Mum did then start improving – she managed to pull through and was released from hospital, and now she’s going from strength to strength.

"As she said herself, there comes a point afterwards when you’re suddenly aware you don’t have to think about breathing any more, and it’s a massive relief. I class us as very, very lucky - particularly with her age and health conditions - that we all did survive it.

“Nobody wants to get coronavirus. I’ve had it, it’s real, and you do not want it. However, if you have had it, go and give Convalescent Plasma. Help the people who need it now.”

Blood donation is considered essential by the Scottish Government so Covid-19 restrictions do not apply, and donors can travel where necessary.

"If you’ve had Covid-19, your journey could help save the lives of those still suffering,” said Dr Nicole Priddee, Consultant Haematologist at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

“If you’re an adult who has recovered from Covid-19, it’s usually because your immune system developed anti Covid-19 antibodies. If you then donate your plasma, Scottish hospitals can use it in the fight against Covid-19.

“Right now, doctors across the UK are using Convalescent Plasma to treat patients in clinical trials, and the need is rapidly rising.”

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