Army personnel have been answering a new kind of call to duty—by rolling up their sleeves and donating blood to help boost vital life-saving supplies.
A soldier fills out paperwork before their blood donation.
A soldier donates blood.
military personnel have come forward to give blood as part of a coordinated campaign led by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in partnership with NHS Blood and Trasnplant at a time when demand for blood was outpacing supply.
An officer donates blood.
Thanks to a swift and strong response from donors and supporters across the country, including serving personnel and civil servants, NHS Blood and Transplant was able to announce the end of an almost year-long Amber Alert.
Brigadier Phil Carter, Head of Army Health Care, has a photo with the event organisers.
Thanks to a swift and strong response from donors and supporters across the country, including serving personnel and civil servants, NHSBT was able to announce the end of an almost year-long Amber Alert.
Army Headquarters Andover, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, MOD Corsham in Wiltshire and Defence Medical Services, Whittington, were the four military establishments used as donation venues between May and July 2025.
In response to an urgent appeal from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) issued earlier this year, military personnel have come forward to give blood as part of a coordinated campaign led by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in partnership with NHSBT at a time when demand for blood was outpacing supply.
Thanks to a swift and strong response from donors and supporters across the country, including serving personnel and civil servants, NHSBT was able to announce the end of an almost year-long Amber Alert.
It's easy to save a life by giving up an hour of your time to donate blood. It's very straightforward and you genuinely come away feeling like you have contributed something back to society.
However, the NHS is keen to emphasise that the need for blood doesn’t stop – and with 5,000 donations needed every day, and over 50,000 appointments to fill every week, NHS Blood and Transplant still need donors to help sustain this momentum.
Head of Army Healthcare, Brigadier Phil Carter KHP OStj MPH MA MRCGP:
“It's easy to save a life by giving up an hour of your time to donate blood. It's very straightforward and you genuinely come away feeling like you have contributed something back to society.”
Army Headquarters Andover, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, MOD Corsham in Wiltshire and Defence Medical Services, Whittington, were the four military establishments used as donation venues between May and July 2025.
In total 266 donations were collected, 177 of which were from first time donors.
This equates to 125 litres (220 pints) of blood collected in just two months.
This volume of blood 798 adults or could help to save up to 1596 infants.
It’s now hoped the initiative will be rolled out to more military bases over the coming months.
Adds Brigadier Carter:
“Unlike most of the population, military personnel do know their blood group. And so, when NHS Blood and Transplant put out a call for donors of a particular blood group, then personnel will know whether they can help.
I would encourage anyone from the military, anybody associated with defence to consider giving blood if they're eligible and if they're able to give up an hour of their time.
The military is there to serve society and a hugely important way in which anybody can serve their society is by donating blood to make a real difference.”
More than 5,000 donations are needed every day – around 1.8 million donations a year - with more than one million active donors required to help maintain a safe and reliable blood supply. Giving blood is quick and easy and each donation saves up to three lives.
The NHS estimates 200,000 extra regular donors are needed to meet the needs of hospitals and stabilise blood stocks for the future.
Gerry Gogarty, NHS Director of Blood Supply, says:
“Just two per cent of the population is keeping the nation's blood stocks afloat, so the NHS is asking more people to sign up to give blood and help create the country's largest volunteering force.
“We particularly need more donors with the very rare B negative blood type, as well as more O negative donors, the universal blood type given to all patients in emergencies.”
Military personnel are no strangers to giving blood. Many are registered as pre-deployment donors, and the Army Medical Services works with NHSBT to support both civilian and military needs.
Adds Gerry Gogarty:
“More than 5,000 donations are needed every day – around 1.8 million donations a year - with more than one million active donors required to help maintain a safe and reliable blood supply.
Giving blood is quick and easy and each donation saves up to three lives. Male donors can donate up to four times per year, and three times a year for females.”
Every minute the NHS needs three lifesaving blood donations to play a vital role in saving the lives of babies and mums after childbirth, fighting cancer, treating conditions like sickle cell and those injured in accidents.
Right now, there is still a particular need for more donors with B negative or O negative blood type, as well as more donors of Black heritage, to help treat patients with sickle cell.
NHSBT is urging members of the public to follow the Armed Forces’ example and consider donating. Appointments can be booked online or via the NHS Give Blood app.
For more information or to register as a blood donor, visit: www.blood.co.uk
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