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Patients urge more blood donors to step forward

Chris CraddockJersey communities reporter
BBC Josephine is wearing glasses and a patterned grey, yellow and black blouse sits at a kitchen island in a modern home. Wooden beams, dining chairs, dark blue cabinetry and a vase of white flowers are visible in the softly blurred background.BBC
Josephine Baker wants her story to encourage more people to donate blood

A woman who needed three blood transfusions has encouraged islanders to become blood donors, and said doing so "could save someone's life".

A Freedom of Information request showed the number of blood donations in the island fell from 1,808 in 2023 to 1,655 in 2025.

Josephine Baker lost 3.5 litres of blood during the birth of her second child in 2020 and said: "You can't predict when someone will need a donation"

Claire Thompson from Health and Care said the service does "not have any issues with blood stocks" but new donors were "always welcome".

Josephine Baker Josephine sits upright in a hospital bed holding a newborn baby wrapped in white blankets. A young child stands beside the bed looking toward the camera, while another person wearing a face mask stands nearby. Hospital equipment, bassinets and medical monitors are visible around the room.Josephine Baker
Baker needed three blood transfusions after giving birth

Baker said: "I had a massive obstetric haemorrhage which is a massive bleed... I really needed that blood, so I appreciate whoever donated it because it really made a difference."

Obstetric haemorrhages are one of the most common causes of maternal deaths according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Baker added: "I'd have been in really be in a dangerous situation if they couldn't have just straightaway given me the blood transfusion within minutes after I'd lost so much blood."

Kayleigh and her son and daugher sit together on a dark sofa in a living room. Kayleigh wears a black top and has visible arm tattoos, while the children sit on either side. Large windows with curtains, houseplants and bookshelves are visible in the background.
Kayleigh Blandin's son Samson needed two blood transfusion when he was born

Kayleigh Blandin has also seen how much of a difference blood donations can make after her son needed two transfusions within hours of his birth in 2017 because of his cystic fibrosis (CF).

She said: "He was recovering from his surgery and he just wasn't making the progress that they hoped for so they told us he would need a little top-up of blood and it really, really helped him."

"I don't know what would happen if we didn't have the blood there waiting for Samson."

Blandin added: "I think if people have an understanding of how easy it is and how rewarding it is, they will step up and donate because for the sake of 30 minutes and a little needle in the arm - it can save a baby's life."

CF is an inherited disease that causes thickened mucus to build up in the lungs, as well as pneumonia and bronchitis.

Chief operating officer at Acute Services for Health and Care, Thompson wanted to reassure people there is no concern about blood levels in the island.

She said: "Although there has been a decline in blood donors in recent years this has not resulted in a shortage in blood and we have enough supplies."

"Patient blood management... has improved over time, which means the amount of blood we use on Island has fallen," Thompson added.

"We always welcome new donors to replace our donors who retire or who can no longer donate."

People can sign up to be a donor on the government's website.

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