How many more donors does Scotland need?

Every day, Scotland needs around 450 blood donors to meet the needs of patients in hospitals across the country. However, fewer people are donating than before, and that puts pressure on Scotland’s blood supply.

During 2025, the number of people actively donating fell from around 3% of the population to under 2%. Here is the shortfall of donors we can see across Scotland:

We do see donors stopping donating for one reason or another so it is very important new donors are welcomed to compensate for this.

How can I help?

Give blood in groups, come back if you haven’t been for a while, let us know if we can come to your workplace, bring a friend - there are lots of ways you can help.

• The blood groups we recruit at any given time do change, as it is always based on current patient needs. So if it’s something you'd consider in the future, do let us know – even if you’re not an AB female.
• You can get in touch by online form, by calling us on 0345 90 90 999, or by simply speaking to us next time you're in giving blood