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London GP help sought with COVID-19 plasma donation

NHS Blood and Transplant needs GP and practice support for convalescent plasma donation.

The antibody rich plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19 can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.

NHSBT is seeking GP/practice support in two ways:

  • GPs and NHS staff had higher infection rates, early access to tests, and a personal commitment, which has made them invaluable and committed potential donors.
  • For practices to help share donation information with patients

NHSBT is taking donations at its donor centres and collaborating with the RECOVERY and REMAP-CAP trials – more details here.

Five quick and easy ways GP practices can help
  • If you’re a GP, practice nurse or NHS employee who has had coronavirus or the symptoms, and live near a donor centre, please offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23 – say you work for the NHS and you will be prioritised.
  • Add a link to your practice website: “If you’ve had coronavirus or the symptoms, you can donate plasma for a trial which could save the lives of people who are still ill. Click here to offer to donate.
  • Put up the attached poster in patient areas and GP/practice staff areas.
  • Share the attached social media post on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram, with wording that: “The NHS needs people who have recovered from COVID-19 to offer to convalescent plasma, for a trial which could save the lives of people who are still ill. Visit www.nhsbt.nhs.uk“
  • Share the www.nhsbt.nhs.uk link with patients who had coronavirus or the symptoms, or give them the attached information card which can be used as a leaflet.
A GP donor’s story

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Catherine Briggs, 46, a GP from Stockport, developed COVID-19 in mid-March.

She said: "It was a really lovely experience to donate plasma after I recovered.

"On the day, I arrived 15 minutes before the appointment and had some checks done, including checking for anaemia. The nurse then checked my veins to see if they were big enough to donate.

"I was looked after by a very nice nurse. They put a needle put into a vein in my arm - which didn't hurt - and I was then connected to the machine for about an hour.

"I watched as my blood was separated and plasma was collected in a bag. The machine is very clever and gives back the red blood cells and so at the end of the procedure, I didn't feel any ill effects. Just went home and had my tea and followed the advice with a very lazy evening."

About NHSBT

NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We provide the blood donation service for England and the organ donation service for the UK. We also provide donated tissues, stem cells and cord blood. We are an essential part of the NHS, saving and improving lives through public donation.

Thank you very much for any help that you can give – we urgently need help finding donors.