South of France holiday scuppers Ed Davey’s blood donation – BBC News
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South of France holiday scuppers Davey’s blood donation
Image source: PA Media
Image caption: Ed Davey posing in front of adverts for blood donation at Brixton underground station before trying to donate at the nearby NHS Blood Donor Centre
By Kate Whannel | Politics reporter | Published 1 hour ago
A summer holiday to the south of France scuppered Sir Ed Davey’s attempt to give blood to the NHS. The Liberal Democrat leader had been poised to donate at the Brixton Donor Centre but, after filling out paperwork, was told he could not go ahead due to his recent trip to the Charente region.
The NHS states that individuals returning from specific parts of France between May and November should wait four weeks before donating because of the risk of mosquito-borne viruses like ChikV and Dengue.
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson confirmed that Sir Ed intends to return to give blood once the 28-day waiting period has passed. His visit to the Brixton centre was part of a campaign to promote blood donations to help alleviate the "winter crisis" in the NHS, which constantly requires replenishment due to blood having a shelf life of 35 days.
NHS Blood Donation highlights that they need over 140,000 new donors this year to meet demand.
Earlier this year, the NHS warned of a significant shortfall in blood stocks, stating that hot weather, holidays, and high demand all impact supplies. Gerry Gogarth, director of blood and plasma supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, urged: "We urgently need anyone eligible to donate to book an appointment as soon as they can."
Donation process:
- Sign up on the NHS Blood Donation website (a link is provided in the text)
- Use the app to register and book an appointment.
Restrictions: There are restrictions on who can donate blood, including recent travel to certain areas. In Sir Ed’s case, his trip to the Charente region in France made him ineligible to donate immediately due to mosquito prevalence. The affected French regions include: Bouches-du-Rhône, Charente, Dordogne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées-Orientales, Var, Gard, Hérault, Isere, Alpes-Maritimes, and Vaucluse, as well as Corsica.
Lib Dem spokesperson:
"Ed unfortunately could not give blood today due to recent changes to rules regarding blood donations after travelling to certain destinations. Ed went to the Charente region in France on holiday which poses an infection risk due to mosquito prevalence, he will have to wait 28 days after returning home in order to give blood. He’ll be back."
