NHS Blood and Transplant opened Reading Donor Centre on 20 October, the largest in England and the first to collect blood, plasma and platelets under one roof.
The centre covers about 11,000 sq ft and has 25 chairs: 16 for plasma, 3 for blood, 3 for platelets and 3 extra for blood at busy times. Plasma collection began on 12 October and blood on 19 October, with platelet collections due to start before the end of the year.
More than 5,000 blood donations are needed every day in England. In the past year alone, Reading’s former temporary site collected 10,992 plasma donations and the local mobile team 22,851 blood donations. Giving blood takes 5 to 10 minutes.
