THE NHS is holding a blood donor recruitment event at Shepherd's Bush blood donor centre on Saturday (5) to attract South Asian donors to help treat health conditions affecting their community.
South Asian donors are needed to treat thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder which affects people of Mediterranean, south Asian, southeast Asian and Middle Eastern origin. People with thalassemia produce too little or no haemoglobin, causing anaemia, fatigue, breathing issues and other symptoms.
Blood transfusion is the main treatment for the condition, but blood from European donors can cause reactions in patients. Nearly one in five patients of Asian heritage experience side effects from inadequately matched blood. Transfusing blood from donors of the same ethnic background reduces these risks.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) will host the event at Westfield Shopping Centre, White City to help visitors learn about blood donation and identify their blood group. Sri Lankan food will be available for participants.
Shepherd’s Bush Donor Centre manager Antonia Patel said: “We’re calling on West London’s south Asian community to step forward and make a lifesaving blood donation. Donating is quick and easy with each unit of blood collected having the potential to save up to three lives.
“Giving blood is quick and painless. The entire appointment takes no longer than an hour and in most case is much quicker. The actual time spent in the donation chair can be around 15 minutes. Donors can only give three to four times per year, so recruiting more donors is vital to securing London’s blood stocks.
“Register now and book an appointment at blood.co.uk on the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23.”
NHS Blood and Transplant, a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority, is seeking to collect 1.45 million units of blood annually to meet patient needs across England. The organisation requires up to 200,000 new donors annually to replace those who stop donating and ensure the right mix of blood groups.
There is a particular focus on recruiting donors with O negative and B negative blood types, which are vulnerable to shortfalls, as well as an urgent need for more black donors who are more likely to have the Ro blood type needed to treat sickle cell disease patients, a statement said.
For details- Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)