Plasma donation plea to support NHS

You can support our local community by making a life-saving plasma donation, right on our doorstep.

The NHS needs 1,000 plasma donations every week to help transform the lives of people with rare immune diseases and cancers who rely on medicines made from plasma.

Reading is home to one of only three dedicated plasma donation centres in the UK, meaning colleagues are in a prime position to help.

The demand for plasma to make these medicines is growing, which is why the NHS urgently needs more donors to come forward.

Donating plasma takes around 35 minutes. You can also give plasma more regularly than giving blood, with most people able to donate again after just two weeks. There are lots of appointments available, so please register now to make a donation.

Being an engaged university - that is for Reading not just in Reading - is one of our strategic priorities, and supporting our local hospitals and NHS workers is one way we can do this.

In recent years the University has donated lab equipment to the NHS to boost Covid-19 testing capacity and created research partnerships to improve health outcomes in Berkshire.

We also recently announced that a new clinical training facility will be built at the University, designed in consultation with the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

What is plasma?

Plasma is a yellowish liquid that makes up more than half of our blood. It carries red and white blood cells and platelets around the body.

It contains antibodies, known as immunoglobulins, which fight infection. These antibodies are made into medicines to help people with over 50 different cancers, rare diseases, immune disorders and genetic conditions.

It is also used for research into new life-changing and life-saving treatments.

Getting there

The Reading Plasma Donor Centre is at Kennett Place, 121 King’s Road, Reading, RG1 3ES. From Whiteknights, you can take the H3 bus from Christchurch Green. From London Road, the Reading Plasma Donor Centre is an 8 minute walk.