Have you had Covid-19? Northamptonshire's hospitals need you to donate blood plasma

"I think it is important we all do as much as we can in this unprecedented battle against this illness"
KGH Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Pawan Kumar (front left) and Respiratory Consultant, Dr Raja Reddy (front right) with Organ and Tissue Donation Committee Chair, Shirley Newman (L) and KGH Lead Nurse for Organ Donation, Linda Knighton (R), who are supporting convalescent plasma donationKGH Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Pawan Kumar (front left) and Respiratory Consultant, Dr Raja Reddy (front right) with Organ and Tissue Donation Committee Chair, Shirley Newman (L) and KGH Lead Nurse for Organ Donation, Linda Knighton (R), who are supporting convalescent plasma donation
KGH Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Pawan Kumar (front left) and Respiratory Consultant, Dr Raja Reddy (front right) with Organ and Tissue Donation Committee Chair, Shirley Newman (L) and KGH Lead Nurse for Organ Donation, Linda Knighton (R), who are supporting convalescent plasma donation

Doctors are urging former Kettering and Northampton General Hospital patients who have had Covid-19 to donate blood plasma for a treatment trial.

Kettering General Hospital Respiratory Consultant, Dr Raja Reddy, and KGH Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Pawan Kumar, want patients to donate their plasma using a new NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) donation centre recently established in Northampton.

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Dr Reddy – who works on the Covid-19 front line – contracted the virus himself in March and made his own convalescent plasma donation via NHSBT’s Cambridge Donor Centre in August.

Donating blood plasma is similar to donating bloodDonating blood plasma is similar to donating blood
Donating blood plasma is similar to donating blood

He said: “Covid-19 is a terrible illness and it has taken many lives.

“As a respiratory consultant I have seen first-hand just how much distress and heartbreak this illness can cause for individuals and their families.

“The development of the new vaccine is great news but clearly many people will continue to contract coronavirus over the next few months – and for some it will be a battle to save their lives.

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“The use of convalescent plasma is a promising area for treating those with serious illness and it is very important that research into this proceeds at pace while Covid-19 is still a common illness.

“That’s why, when I contracted Covid-19 in March, I was keen to support the research into convalescent plasma.

“I had quite mild Covid-19 symptoms but a good antibody response and I travelled to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and donated plasma.

“I think it is important we all do as much as we can in this unprecedented battle against this illness.

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“I would urge patients at both KGH and NGH who have had Covid-19 to contact NHSBT and then visit the centre in Northampton to help.

“It takes about 45 minutes to give plasma once you have done the paperwork and has no ill effects. It could help to save someone’s life. “

KGH Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Pawan Kumar, who is also the hospital’s clinical lead for organ donation, added: “NHS Blood and Transplant is in the midst of an urgent nationwide campaign to collect Covid-19 antibody rich blood plasma for use in research to help seriously ill patients to fight the virus and survive.

“It is expanding the number of national donation centres as a priority (there are currently 42) and I am pleased to see there is now one in Northampton.

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“It is important that as many former patients contribute to the research now to help make sure as many people as possible can receive plasma.

“Giving your plasma could be a Christmas present that will help save other people’s lives, either now or in the future. Christmas is a time of giving and this is something those who have recovered from Covid can do to help future patients.”

People of all levels of illness can donate – including people with minor symptoms – but there is a special need for the most seriously ill people to donate as new analysis shows generally they have the highest antibody levels.

The newly opened donor centre is at Grange Park Court, Roman Way, Northampton NN4 5EA, where local people can donate. Donating takes about 45 minutes, and the whole visit including snacks and health checks takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. Another centre for those in the North of the county is in Leicester at the Mansion House, Ground Floor, 41 Guildhall Lane, Leicester, LE1 5FQ.

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To book into either centre you need to do it through NHSBT by phoning 0300 123 23 23 or go online https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/covid-19-research/plasma-donors/who-can-donate-plasma/Professor David Roberts, NHSBT associate medical director for blood donation, said: “Our analysis shows people who had hospital care make our best donors.

“They have the highest antibody levels and their antibodies stay higher for longer. Your body quickly replaces the donated plasma and antibodies and it does not affect antibody levels in the long term.

“We are grateful to everyone who has been willing to donate their plasma, especially to those people who were in hospital and will have had a difficult time this year. By donating, they could be helping to save lives.”