THE NHS is appealing for black people to give blood to save the lives of patients with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is the most common and fastest growing genetic blood disorder in the UK and it affects black people the most.

To mark National Blood Week (June 19-25), NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing for black people in Redbridge and Waltham Forest to register to give blood.

Across the country, 40,000 new black donors are needed to meet an increasing demand for blood to help save and improve the lives of patients with sickle cell disease.

15,000 people have sickle cell disease and over 300 babies are born each year with the condition.

It is most common in black people, causing extreme pain, life-threatening infections and other complications such as stroke or loss of vision.

Florence Kiggundu from Woodford wants to spread the message that giving blood improves lives, after going through a series of transfusions.

She said: “I was struggling with heavy periods for a while and needed regular blood transfusions for around four years.

“I was amazed that people would take the time to give blood so generously to help others.

“It really is essential for black people to give blood regularly though so that people can get the hospital treatment they need.”

Advances in the treatment of sickle cell disease mean patients with sickle cell disease are living longer so the demand for transfusions has never been higher.

To get the best treatment, patients need blood closely matched to their own, which comes most likely from a donor of the same ethnicity.

Many patients also need blood with a special subtype, called Ro, which is more common in black donors.

Half of black blood donors have this special blood type, compared with only 2 per cent of white donors.

Just under 10,000 black people donated blood last year, approximately 1 per cent of the current donor base.

Donating blood should take no more than an hour from appointment time and each donation can save or improve up to three lives.

If you are fit and healthy, weigh over 50kg and aged between 17 and 66, you should be able to give blood.

If you are over 70, you need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating.

To register or book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or search for ‘NHS Give Blood’ app.