BOLTON Plasma Donor Centre has reached the 1,000 plasma donations milestone, just five months after collections began.

Donations started on April 7, the first time plasma donations were held in more than 20 years, and the plasma is used to make lifesaving medicines for people with immune diseases.

Kim Douthwaite, clinical donor centre manager for Bolton Plasma Donor Centre, said: “We’ve had a great response from people here so far and there are another 52 people booked in to donate over the next week.

“Our fantastic team at Bolton are very welcoming. We are proud that together with our amazing donors, we are helping to save and improve lives and welcome more donors to join us.

“Thousands of patients in the UK rely on these medicines but there’s an international shortage. Donating is something simple you can do to save a life. Please give plasma if you can. We especially need men, as they’re better able to donate.”

Robert Firth, 66, a dentist from Heaton, gave the 1,000th donation at the dBolton Plasma ddonation centre.

Robert says: “I started donating plasma as a simple way of giving something back to the NHS. It’s easy do, worthwhile and helps to save many lives. I feel honoured to have given the 1000th donation. May we reach 2000 very soon!”

During plasma donation, the donor’s blood is circulated through a machine which separates out the plasma and returns the red blood cells to the donor.

A restriction on using plasma from UK donors was introduced in 1998, as one of the vCJD safety measures. This was lifted by the Government this year, following expert advice that it could safely restart.

Plasma is being collected at 11 centres and will be supplied to NHS England for use in hospitals around the country.

People can register to donate by phone, calling 03001232323.