Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

BAME donor crisis: "People could die"

by LAUREN CODLING

ETHNIC minorities in the UK face a grave health risk – especially those who require a donor – as the number of eligible donors has fallen while the demand for blood, stem cell and organs has risen, a new report has revealed.


Ending the Silent Crisis reviews the epidemic surrounding donors among BAME groups, with an estimated 27,000 blood donations needed in 2018-19 to keep up with increasing demands.

Labour MP Eleanor Smith, who chaired the review, told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (5) that if more donors don’t come forward, lives will be lost.

“[If things don’t change,] the situation looks pretty dire,” Smith said. “I’m saying it quite bluntly, but people could die.”

Statistics found only 61 per cent of BAME patients in need of a stem cell transplant found a match, compared to 96 per cent of white northern Europeans, while more than a third of those on the waiting list for a kidney transplant are from ethnic minority groups.

On average, BAME individuals wait for a kidney transplant a year longer than their white counterparts.

In 2016-17, more than 1,400 people donated their organs after they died. However, just 29 of these were Asian; 22 were black and 14 were mixed race.

Key findings and recommendations in the review included implementing a longterm government strategy to increase the BAME donation rate; cultural competence training for members of the medical workforce who encounter potential donors; and a public health campaign targeting BAME communities, developed by the community itself.

Smith, who worked as a nurse before she pursued a career in politics, explained that it is a lack of understanding within communities that can discourage individuals from signing the donor list. She believed some misconceptions, including ideas of the procedures being painful, can act as a deterrent.

“We have to start with young people,” she recommended. “It needs to be part of the public health ethos, I think, so children understand it from the beginning and understand what it means.”

Dr Kailesh Chand OBE, the vice-president of the British Medical Association (BMA), shared Smith’s sentiments and agreed that education, especially within the younger generation, is key to the community realising how important donation is.

“The outlook is not terribly bright, but it will not change overnight,” he told Eastern Eye. “Education and awareness is lacking, and it does take time. We

have to be patient.”

Dr Chand, who has worked as a GP since 1983, said one of the most common myths include the fear that care will be compromised if doctors find out a patient is a donor. He asserted this is inaccurate and the loyalty of doctors lies with the patient under their current care.

Other worries include the potential pain from the procedure and concerns that a donor is too old to be eligible.

“When explained properly, people are generous,” Dr Chand said. “But to explain it, not many organisations or gatherings will let the speakers have a platform since it is very low on the priority list.”

Last week, Eastern Eye reported on how Conservative MP Priti Patel called for a nationwide

drive to increase the number of donors from ethnic minority communities as figures show a significant lack of Asians on the list.

The Witham MP raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons requesting Theresa May to lead a national campaign for donor registration.

In response, May said she was aware more needed to be done, and added nearly £20 million has been provided to the NHS Blood and Transplant Service and blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan for stem cell donation since 2015.

Smith acknowledged the issue had been raised in parliament but hoped more action would be taken, especially taking into account the release of the latest statistics.

“I want this always to be out there in the communities and in schools, it needs to be normalised. I don’t want to be having this conversation in a year’s time,” she said.

Harpreet Bhoot is the aunt of 11-year old Rajie, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last November. His best chance of survival is to find a suitable stem cell donor, but no match has been found.

According to blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, there is only a 20.5 per cent chance of finding a suitable stem cell donor for Asians, compared to 69 per cent for people with white or European heritage.

Bhoot revealed the family are determined to keep positive and have hope as the situation is out of their hands. “You have to rely on doctors and people who are donating, so positivity is the only way to go,” she told Eastern Eye.

Admitting she was not aware of the lack of donors before Rajie was diagnosed, Bhoot said it is only when families are put into the situation that they realise the issue.

She also added that a lot of misconceptions of becoming a donor appeared to stem from the older generation.

“The younger generation are quite happy to put their names forward as a donor, and a lot of the time it is their parents or their parent’s parents who will be against it – the question of: ‘Why you are doing it and what will happen to you?’” she said.

In response to the report, health minister Jackie Doyle-Price said she was personally committed to doing all she could to help change the low statistics so more lives could be saved.

“To donate is to give someone the gift of life… I encourage community leaders to work with us and help spread awareness and understanding of donation so that we can break down

the taboos,” she said. When contacted by Eastern Eye,

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said they welcomed any debate on how to increase the number of BME donors.

“NHSBT is already investing significant resources and working closely with partners to

achieve this,” a spokesperson said.

“We look forward to working with the authors of this report as NHSBT works to meet the

challenges around donation.”

More For You

Shabana Mahmood

Newly appointed home secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives at Number 10 at Downing Street as Keir Starmer holds a cabinet reshuffle on September 5, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Shabana Mahmood named home secretary, Lammy deputy to Starmer in major reshuffle

Highlights:

  • David Lammy becomes deputy prime minister while keeping foreign affairs brief
  • Angela Rayner resigned after admitting underpaid property tax
  • Lisa Nandy to stay on as culture secretary
  • Reshuffle marks first major shake-up of Starmer’s government

SHABANA MAHMOOD has been appointed home secretary in a major reshuffle of prime minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet following the resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

Keep ReadingShow less
Epping protests

The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration. (Photo: Getty Images)

Asylum seeker convicted of sex assaults case that led to protests

AN ETHIOPIAN asylum seeker, whose arrest in July led to protests outside a hotel near London where he and other migrants were housed, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman.

The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 20 miles (30 km) from London, triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Angela-Rayner-Getty

Rayner, 45, announced she would step down as deputy prime minister, housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party. (Photo: Getty Image)

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner resigns after admitting tax mistake

Highlights

  • Rayner steps down after admitting underpaying property tax
  • Resigns as deputy prime minister, housing minister and Labour deputy leader
  • Becomes eighth minister to leave Starmer’s government, and the most senior so far
  • Her departure comes as Labour trails Reform UK in opinion polls

DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after admitting she had underpaid property tax on a new home. Her resignation is a fresh setback for prime minister Keir Starmer, who had initially stood by her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Migrants boat
Migrants swim to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France. (Photo: Getty Images)

UK pauses refugee family reunion route amid migration reforms

Highlights:

  • Refugee family reunion scheme suspended as part of migration reforms
  • Nearly 21,000 visas issued in the past year, mainly to women and children
  • New rules to include contribution requirements and longer waiting periods
  • Government expects first migrant returns to France later this month

THE GOVERNMENT has announced it is suspending a scheme that allowed families of refugees in the UK to apply to join their relatives, as part of efforts to cut irregular migration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Angela-Rayner-Reuters

Angela Rayner arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on September 2, 2025. (Photo credit: Reuters)

Rayner's future uncertain as report on stamp duty case expected soon

DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner is awaiting the outcome of an investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty on a property in East Sussex, with the findings expected soon.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said he anticipated the report, led by ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, would be delivered “pretty quickly.” He added: “Then, of course, I will act on whatever the report is that's put in front of me.”

Keep ReadingShow less