More than 20 staff at HURST have signed up to give blood in a special drive by the independent accounting and business advisory firm as the NHS urgently seeks new donors to come forward and help tackle a national blood shortage.
NHS Blood and Transplant last month issued a plea for people with O negative and O positive-type blood to donate after stocks fell to ‘unprecedently low’ levels in England.
O negative is a universal blood type which can be given to anyone. For this reason, it is used in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown and is carried by air ambulances and emergency vehicles.
O positive is the most common type of blood – around 35 per cent of the population has it and it can be given to any male and all females over childbearing age.
A total of 24 people at HURST have so far signed up to take part in NHS Blood and Transplant donor sessions at Stockport County FC’s stadium on Friday, August 9 and Friday, August 30.
The firm’s initiative is being spearheaded by Amy Devereux and Danielle Tierney, of HURST Corporate Finance, and event and content marketing executive Emily Efstathiou.
Amy said: “Quite a number of people at HURST have given blood on an individual basis in the past, and we thought it would be a good idea to undertake a firm-wide drive.
“We’re really pleased with the fantastic response we’ve had from across all departments and roles, and we are continuing to promote the sessions through an internal video and marketing campaign, as the more people who volunteer the better.
“A number of those who have signed up have donated previously, but quite a lot are fresh donors.
“It only takes around an hour for the appointment in total and around five to 10 minutes in the donation chair to give one unit of blood – it’s a really simple process. It can be daunting for first-timers, but it doesn’t hurt and is a friendly, relaxing experience.
“Probably everyone knows someone who has needed blood at some time, so it’s a massively important cause.
“The NHS says each donation can save or improve up to three lives, so our group as it stands will be helping 72 people.”
Anyone aged 17-65 who is generally fit and well and weighs between 50kg and 158kg can give blood. Around two-thirds of blood donated in England is used to treat medical conditions including anaemia, cancer and blood disorders. Nearly a third is used in surgery and emergencies, including childbirth.
Suzi Browne from NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We’re delighted to see the response of staff at HURST in answering our call for blood donors and booking in to donate in Stockport.
“We hope that the fantastic efforts of this group will inspire others in the local community to come forward and give blood, as well as other businesses to support their employees who wish to donate.
“We need 200,000 new donors every year to help save lives and replace those no longer able to donate.”
HURST focuses on advising entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses across all sectors. Clients include Kinaxia Logistics, M&I Materials, Beechfield Brands, Duerr’s, Oliver Valves, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Krones UK, Creamline Dairies, Scapa Group and Hyde Group.
The firm recently moved its head office to a new flagship development in Stockport to accommodate its growing team, taking 11,000sq ft at 3 Stockport Exchange, the latest phase of a £145m project by Muse Developments and Stockport Council.
Pictured: HURST partner Simon Brownbill, who is a regular blood donor.