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The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-18736, in the name of Fulton MacGregor, on commending Give Blood 4 Good’s efforts to secure Scotland’s blood supply. The debate will be concluded without any question being put, and I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament commends the charitable work of Give Blood 4 Good (GB4G), which was founded in 2019 in memory of Patrick Smith, an Edinburgh student who passed away and who was a passionate advocate for blood donation; understands that GB4G was established to address a significant gap in the number of young people becoming blood donors, and to encourage a new generation to step forward; recognises what it sees as the effectiveness of its educational initiatives, including the Young Ambassador Programme for high school students, which uses e-learning and hands-on activities to inform and engage students; believes that this programme not only educates young people on the lifesaving importance of blood donation but also provides them with transferable skills that can be used on CVs and university applications; understands that each blood donation has the potential to save or improve up to three lives; welcomes the charity’s work, and recognises the importance of blood donation in Coatbridge and Chryston and across Scotland.
17:07
I thank the members who supported the motion, and I thank the Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy and Sport and the Government for engaging with me on the matter and for offering to meet representatives from Give Blood 4 Good. I declare that I am a regular blood donor and that my next blood donation will be my 19th.
It is an honour to lead the debate and to shine a light on the brilliant work of Give Blood 4 Good, or GB4G. Building on the concerns that I have previously raised in the chamber about the future of blood donation and the essential role of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, I return to the issue to highlight the inspiring work of Give Blood 4 Good, which is mobilising the next generation of donors. I thank Hanna Smith and Martha Greenbank for founding in 2019 what is a remarkable charity in memory of Hanna’s brother, Patrick Smith, an Edinburgh student whose life was tragically cut short at just 21.
Patrick was a proper champion. From the day that he turned 17—the youngest age at which someone can donate blood—he was first in line, with his sleeves rolled up, encouraging everyone around him to do the same. After his sudden death in 2019, his family grieved, but they also built a lasting foundation. GB4G was created to carry Patrick’s passion forward by inspiring more young people to donate blood and, in doing so, save lives.
Let me paint a picture. At the very first blood drive that was held in Patrick’s name, more than 150 people turned up. That is a big deal because, across the United Kingdom, most 18 to 24-year-olds have never donated, with fear given as one of the biggest reasons why they have not.
Only a small percentage of adults give blood regularly, and, in Scotland alone, we lost more than 13,000 donors in 2021, in the wake of the pandemic. That kind of drop puts serious strain on the national health service, and that is where GB4G comes in, as it makes it easier to show up, feel safe, and get involved.
Blood donation keeps our NHS going. One donation can make the difference between life and death for someone in urgent need. Every donation can save or improve up to three lives. I ask members to think about that: three families given hope—whether it is a mum in labour, a crash survivor or someone battling cancer or sickle-cell disease, that matters. We are talking about real people facing real emergencies, and our hospitals depend on that generosity every day. When blood runs low, operations are pushed back and lives are put at risk.
Since GB4G launched, its donors have saved or improved the lives of an estimated 16,362 people, and that impact continues. Just this week, there was a local blood donation drive in my constituency. Such local actions make a meaningful difference to the trajectory of blood donation across the country.
At the heart of the group’s work is the young ambassador programme—YAP—which is genuinely inspiring. Piloted in schools such as the Glasgow Academy, it gets young people fired up about donation before they are even old enough to give blood. Through e-learning about blood types and transfusion needs, and hands-on activities, those students can become real advocates. In the pilot, 15 secondary 5 and S6 pupils turned their school into a hub of awareness. The programme is also about building practical skills, including leadership and teamwork, allowing young people to grow and make a real difference. Those young ambassadors walk away with CV gold and are saving lives along the way.
The work does not stop there. GB4G’s Bloody Brilliant Uni Squad secured nearly 1,000 pledges last year, 64 per cent of which were from first-time donors. One campaign, for a young woman who needed more than 100 transfusions during leukaemia treatment, gathered 230 pledges, including 116 new donors. That effort potentially saved 690 lives.
We should also recognise Ollie Smith, Patrick’s brother and a Glasgow Warriors star, who became GB4G’s first official ambassador in May 2024. He is out there visiting schools and putting up social media posts, telling young people that Patrick’s passion was infectious and saying, “Let’s keep it going.”
GB4G is also changing the way that people think about blood donation. In October 2024, it teamed up with WeDonate, a platform that offers perks and rewards to regular donors through brand partnerships. That does not just provide nice extras; it helps fund youth-focused programmes such as YAP and the Bloody Brilliant Uni Squad and, more important, it turns donation into a habit rather than a one-off act. As co-founder Martha Greenbank put it,
“We’re making giving blood as normal as recycling—because lives depend on it.”
The need could not be clearer. Right now, 55 per cent of active blood donors in Scotland are aged 45 and over. The youngest age group, 17 to 24, remains the least represented. The numbers are stark: 70 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds have never donated, and just 11 per cent give blood regularly. That gap is not just a statistic; it is a real risk to the future of our blood supply.
The core objective here is to work to increase all numbers. There are important signs of hope in relation to the youngest group. Thanks to effective targeted education and outreach, almost 1,000 young people pledged to donate through university programmes in the past academic year. Many of them were first-time donors who might never have considered it before. That kind of progress shows what is possible with the right approach.
In our own communities, the opportunity is even greater. Rolling out YAP in schools could create a long-term pipeline of donors—people who understand the importance of donation early on and carry that commitment into adulthood.
Our maternity wards, accident and emergency departments and treatment centres rely on a steady supply of blood. We cannot afford to leave that to chance. By investing in education and making blood donation a normal part of life, GB4G is laying the foundation for a more resilient system—one that does not leave anyone behind.
However, to make that progress sustainable, we need a clear and proactive commitment from Government. Therefore, I call on ministers to work with GB4G and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service to formally integrate the young ambassador programme into the school curriculum across Scotland. I appreciate that that is not within the remit of the minister who will respond to this debate, but I believe that early education is key. We need to encourage blood donation as a civic responsibility as well as a medical one.
Further, the Government should support and expand youth-led blood donation initiatives with dedicated funding, ensuring that programmes such as the Bloody Brilliant Uni Squad and community blood drives can scale up and reach more people. That means providing resources for outreach, marketing and partnership building with local authorities and educational institutions.
I also urge the Scottish Government to promote blood donation as a public health priority, with a national campaign that targets younger demographics directly, dispelling fears and misconceptions, and aiming to make donating blood a routine part of life, where that is appropriate for the individual—I have not mentioned this yet, but I acknowledge that, obviously, there are people who cannot donate blood.
Local councils and public bodies should be encouraged to facilitate donation opportunities by providing accessible venues and time-off policies for workers to give blood. The Scottish Government can lead by example by ensuring that its employees have the flexibility to donate during working hours.
In closing, I invite all members to visit giveblood4good.org, pledge to donate, encourage schools in their area to join YAP and take the message back to their communities, friends, families and constituents. Let us honour Patrick not just with words but with action—donate, educate and save lives. In Scotland, generosity runs deep. Starting today, let us keep that spirit—and the hope that it brings—flowing.
17:15
Presiding Officer, I apologise to you and the other members in the chamber for having to leave before the end of the debate this evening.
I thank Fulton MacGregor for bringing forward the debate. As he said, Give Blood 4 Good is a Scottish registered charity that works to improve participation in blood donation by increasing awareness and education among young adults in particular, breaking down misconceptions and empowering people to become regular donors. That involves collaboration with schools and universities. As he mentioned, the charity does outreach through student ambassadors, who share donor and recipient stories and organise community events, which are all aimed at fostering a culture in which blood donation is a regular and respected part of young people’s lives. The charity runs a young ambassador programme, where students lead awareness and donation initiatives within their institutions.
As Fulton MacGregor said, the charity was founded in 2019, in memory of Patrick Smith, a keen swimmer who was involved in the University of Edinburgh’s swimming and water polo club. I know that that was a passion of his, but he was also extremely passionate about blood donation, so much so that he gave his first blood as soon as he was able to—on his 17th birthday. Every time that Patrick donated, he would advocate how important it was to do so and, at every opportunity that he had, would encourage his friends and family members to give blood.
Following a blood drive in Patrick’s honour, where more than 150 people donated blood, it was realised that more than 60 per cent of people who took part had never given blood before. Most of them were young adults and had no intentions of giving blood again in the future. Further research has been done, and, according to an NHS statistic, 81 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds in the United Kingdom have never donated blood, and 35 per cent of that age group admitted that they were scared to do so.
My mum has been donating blood for many years. The blood donation unit would come to Dunbar grammar school every so often, and she would always visit it. I have been giving blood for a number of years, and in the past few years I have also started to donate platelets. My daughter gave blood when she was in her earlier years—she was just over 17—and she now donates platelets as well. We often debate who has the better platelets—she knows that it is me, of course. Three generations of the family are donating, and that shows the importance of starting to donate as early as possible.
To build on some of the points that Mr MacGregor mentioned, only 4 per cent of people in Scotland who are eligible to donate blood do so. There are many reasons why people cannot donate, which makes it even more important for people to do so when they can.
Every time that someone gives blood, they can save the lives of up to three people. All blood donations are separated into three components—red blood cells, plasma and platelets. One blood donation can save or improve the lives of up to three people. That means that the exact products can be given to those who need them, while ensuring that none of the blood donated goes to waste.
Every day, 400 new donors are needed to meet the demand for blood in the UK. Adults and children who suffer from anaemia, cancer and blood disorders are dependent on regular blood donations, and most cannot survive without them.
Every minute, four units of blood are issued to UK hospitals to help patients. Blood donations are also needed for people who require major and emergency surgeries, and to treat blood loss after childbirth. To meet that demand, 5,000 people need to give blood every day. People can donate once they are 17. More than half of regular blood donors are over the age of 45, so we need more young and diverse donors to donate. As soon as someone is 17, they are eligible to donate blood.
Women aged 17 to 34 are twice as likely to donate than men of the same age, but men tend to have more iron and a higher platelet count than women, which means that they can donate more regularly. Furthermore, only men’s blood can be used for transfusions in newborn babies. That highlights the fact that we need more men to regularly donate.
The clear message is: book an appointment today.
17:19
I start by congratulating Fulton MacGregor on securing this important debate. I always enjoy his members’ business debates and the campaigns that he works on, because not only does he bring the problems to the chamber but, often, he brings the solutions, too. I strongly associate myself with the calls that he has made on the Government, which all seem to be reasonable and practical steps that could make a real difference.
It is a pleasure to follow Paul McLennan, who has inspired me to get on and book an appointment to give blood. I was a regular donor in the past—I started when I was at school—and then, probably exactly as Fulton MacGregor mentioned, I was one of those people who got out of the way of it during the pandemic. I think that I have done it once since the pandemic. Although it is worth while and important to contribute to the debate and to encourage the Government to act, those of us who can should be looking to roll up our sleeves, and I reflect on the fact that I have not been good at doing that. Therefore, I am very grateful to the 112,251 active donors in Scotland, who make time to do that.
However, as we have heard, we are still facing on-going donation blood shortages, which is why it is really important that organisations such as Give Blood 4 Good play their important role in raising awareness. We must also recognise their ability to reach out in a different way. In the past, many initiatives have relied on adverts on the backs of buses or broadcast during television programmes, flyers posted through doors, or word of mouth. If we want to reach young people and a new audience, we need to meet people where they are. That is what is so good and inspiring about this initiative—it recognises the need to do that underlying work.
As we have heard, giving blood is life changing for both the donor and the person receiving the blood. In the speeches so far, we have heard about the range of people who need blood, often unexpectedly, after an operation, complications during childbirth or a serious accident. It could be a child battling cancer or a victim of a car crash. If we found ourselves or our families in any of those situations, we would be absolutely desperate to know that a blood transfusion was available, but that relies on each and every one of us playing our part.
It is interesting to reflect on the fact that, in other areas of medicine, lots of new treatments have become available and there have been lots of medical advances that have led to different types of care, but blood cannot be manufactured en masse. There is no laboratory that can step in to do that. We are the one source of this life-preserving fluid, which is what makes blood donation and increasing the number of blood donors so important. That is why the steps that have been outlined should be taken.
I pay tribute to the friends and family of Patrick Smith, whose example stands as an inspiration to us all. They can take a great deal of comfort in the organisation that has grown around him and the number of lives that, as Fulton MacGregor said, have potentially been saved. I hope that we will hear from the minister that at least some of the points that Fulton MacGregor set out are things that the Government can act on.
Carol Mochan is the final speaker in the open debate.
17:24
I apologise that I am not in the chamber this evening, because the order of business was changed, but, like others, I so wanted to speak in this debate. I thank Fulton MacGregor for bringing this important debate to the chamber and I join him and others in commending the work of Give Blood 4 Good, which has done a great deal, as we have heard, to encourage young people to donate blood.
I, too, thank all those who continue to come forward and donate. Donations make sure that hospitals continue to have a good supply of blood. As we have heard, demand can be really unpredictable and blood has a very short shelf life, so there is no such thing as too many donors—blood is always in high demand.
We must never underestimate the impact that a single donation can make. As the motion states,
“each blood donation has the potential to save or improve up to three lives”.
That is why we must continue to champion and celebrate the work of organisations and charities such as Give Blood 4 Good, which help to raise awareness of the difference that one donation can make.
As we heard, Give Blood 4 Good was established when it became clear that there was a gap in young people’s awareness and education around giving blood. Many were not fully informed on the life-changing impact that blood donations can have, and Give Blood 4 Good sets out to change that. Through innovations, it has worked to improve young people’s education and understanding in order to encourage as many as possible to donate. Its young ambassador programme helps to break down the fears and misconceptions that are commonly associated with donating blood. It educates young people when they are still at school, allowing them to be well informed before they turn 17. That is key, because 17 is the age at which young people can make their first donation. Understanding the importance of blood donation before that is therefore essential.
I am pleased that the Parliament is recognising the work of Give Blood 4 Good and that, through this debate, we can continue to support its work. As members have highlighted, blood donations can be life changing and they are an easy way to help others. As Oliver Mundell said, we should put ourselves in that place as well, and as many members as possible who can donate blood should do so. Whether the blood is used to treat cancer patients or to save those who have lost blood through an accident, surgery or childbirth, donations have a real power to save lives.
When I was researching for this debate, it was heartwarming to read the personal stories of those who have received a blood donation. Many testimonies highlighted the impact of stranger’s generosity and kindness, and they came from both those who have received blood and their families.
In just one hour, we have the power to transform a life. I recognise how busy day-to-day life can be, but I hope that this debate allows us to pause, reflect, remember the difference that a donation can make, and consider speaking to others about the issue. Supporting public awareness is important, and I hope that the minister will speak to the on-going work that the Government is doing to support the charity and others and help with awareness.
I thank everybody who has contributed to the debate and, of course, all those in the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service who work tirelessly with our NHS to continue to make sure that we have a high-quality supply of blood, tissues and cells every day. I again thank Give Blood 4 Good for all the work that it does in Patrick Smith’s name.
Thank you, Ms Mochan. I add my thanks to the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service for making a return visit to Orkney for the first time in 16 years earlier this year, which allowed me to donate at home rather than down in Edinburgh.
With that, I invite Maree Todd to respond to the debate.
17:28
Thank you, Presiding Officer. We Highland and Islanders do find it easier to donate down here in Edinburgh.
I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, who is unable to be here.
Following the debate on organ and tissue donation last Thursday evening, I, too, welcome this debate on blood donation. It gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, which also carries out important work on tissue and stem cell donation, some of which we heard about last week. The debate also enables us to highlight the really important supporting role that is played by charities such as Give Blood 4 Good in encouraging young people to donate blood. I thank members for their speeches and, in particular, Fulton MacGregor for lodging the motion.
The key priority of the SNBTS is to ensure that the NHS has enough blood to meet the transfusion needs of patients in Scotland. The NHS needs a continuous supply of blood and platelets to keep cancer care services, maternity wards, accident and emergency departments and other life-saving services running.
When someone gives blood, their donation is split into three separate parts: red cells, platelets and plasma. That means that one hour out of their day can help to save or improve the lives of up to three separate people.
To be ready to help Scotland’s patients in that way, the SNBTS aims to retain five to seven days of stock for each blood type at any time. To be able to do that, it absolutely relies on the generosity of the almost 93,670 active blood donors in Scotland who, between them, have made 161,536 donor attendances in the past 12 months. Depending on hospital demand, the SNBTS aims to welcome 483 donors every day. Therefore, every day, blood donors save or improve the lives of people across Scotland.
As of today, blood stocks in Scotland are at satisfactory levels for all blood groups, which is only the case thanks to the work of the SNBTS and the contributions of all our donors. However, blood stocks can fluctuate, particularly over holiday periods, which is why it is important to encourage people who can donate to attend blood-donation sessions.
Everyone can do their bit in that respect. I donated blood in February and September this year at the Edinburgh blood donor centre. I assure colleagues that it is just along the road—less than 10 minutes’ cycle away—and it is open until 7 pm on Parliament sitting days, helpfully. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care donated blood in January, too. The timing of that visit was really useful, because it enabled him to support the SNBTS’s blood drive over the winter months. Patients need life-saving blood all year round and, as we all know, the NHS does not stop over winter. The cabinet secretary was able to meet the donor carers and nurses at the centre, along with some donors, and he visited a plasmapheresis donor suite.
As well as in Edinburgh, the SNBTS has donation centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness, and it runs many community sessions across the country. Donors are asked to make an appointment to give blood to ensure that the SNBTS can help patients better. Managing the number of donors at each session enables the SNBTS to monitor expected stocks of different blood types in advance and adjust plans if needed. The aim of the arrangements is to make it as easy as possible to donate blood.
In addition to blood, the SNBTS is now asking people to donate blood plasma, which is used to produce certain medicines. The medicines can be used to treat more than 50 diseases, including autoimmune diseases and haemolytic disease in babies. There are currently 1,191 plasma donors in Scotland, and the SNBTS hopes to welcome another 1,000 new donors over the course of 2025. Plasma can be donated in any of the SNBTS blood donor centres.
To commemorate world blood donor day this year, the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health visited the haemophilia, thrombosis and immunology unit at the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh in June. The visit showcased the importance of the SNBTS’s plasma for medicines programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government. During the visit, Ms Minto was able to hear directly from clinicians and patients about the importance of the medicines, and she noted that the visit was very useful in promoting the need for more plasma donors.
As other members have said, the SNBTS saw a decrease in the number of people donating blood following the Covid-19 pandemic. Donor numbers have now begun to rise again, but more donors are still needed to ensure that we can maintain blood supplies at safe levels. New young donors are particularly needed to ensure a sustainable future for the blood donor base in Scotland.
I want to ask something that came up in my discussion with the GB4G group. Is there any discussion with the SNBTS about possibly allowing smaller donations by new blood donors? A donation has to be a pint of blood; I know that there are quite a lot of rules around that. However, getting people in to give smaller donations—at least for the first couple of times—might ease people in, because donating a pint can be quite off-putting for a lot of young first-time donors.
We can certainly discuss doing that—I will ask Jenni Minto to raise it in her regular communication with the SNBTS. I imagine that there would be challenges in relation to the size of the collection. I regularly give blood and I assure the member that you do not miss it at all—a pint can easily go without your feeling any impact whatsoever. Maybe reassurance is what is required, rather than an adjustment in the process.
In line with lots of global blood donor services, Scotland faces an ageing donor base. As others have said, 55 per cent of Scotland’s active donor base are now aged 45 or over. Donors aged 17 to 24 are the smallest group of active donors in Scotland. The SNBTS already does excellent work with schools, colleges and universities. It also has a formal school talk programme and has delivered 84 school talks in the past year, delivering the message to almost 5,000 young people. That has directly resulted in more than 1,000 donors from secondary 5 and 6 in schools in Scotland, and those efforts have caused donor registrations from people aged 24 and under to increase by up to 30 per cent in the past 12 months.
However, we can always do more. That is why I welcome the contribution of charities such as Give Blood 4 Good. As we have heard, Give Blood 4 Good has been doing excellent work since it was set up in 2019 in memory of Patrick Smith. I offer my warmest condolences to the friends and family of Patrick, who was such a passionate advocate for blood donation and who has had such a big influence since his passing. Give Blood 4 Good works in close consultation and has really good relations with the SNBTS, which I commend.
I also pay particular tribute to Give Blood 4 Good’s young ambassador programme and the way in which it uses e-learning to help fifth and sixth-year students learn about the life-saving importance of blood donation. It is particularly important that we continue to attract young people to donate blood and, as such, I welcome the supporting work that Give Blood 4 Good is doing. The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health will be meeting the organisation in the coming weeks to progress that further. I assure colleagues that we are keen to reach that particular target demographic and we would be very happy to work with Give Blood 4 Good to maximise its impact.
The patients who receive blood donation cannot thank the donors personally. On their behalf and on behalf of the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, I say thank you to all donors. This crucial service could not operate without the wonderful blood donors and I encourage anyone who is eligible to give blood to get along and do it. The debate today has made an important contribution to supporting that service.
Thank you, minister. With an hour and a half before—
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I apologise for delaying you and other colleagues longer than necessary. I have realised that I inadvertently used the wrong pre-Covid figure for the number of blood donors. I wanted to make members aware of that. My apologies.
Thank you, Mr Mundell. That concludes the debate.
Meeting closed at 17:37.Previous
Decision Time