DVLA announce unexpected change on driving licence applications
New driving license applicants in Britain will now be encouraged to register as blood donors.
The initiative, which is the product of a collaboration between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and NHS Blood and Transfusion (NHSBT), aims to increase the number of young and regular donors.
License applicants will receive an email with a direct link to register and an important message highlighting how donating blood saves lives.
Officials estimate the message will be seen by millions of people each year.
More young donors are needed to secure future blood supplies, NHSBT said, noting that more than half of people who regularly donate blood are over the age of 45.
People can donate from age 17 and register from age 16.
The organization said it hoped the new initiative would build on its previous successful organ donor partnership with the DVLA.
Since 1994, the option to participate in the organ donor registry has been added to the driver’s license application.
NHSBT said around 70 per cent of people who registered did so through this prompt.
Hospitals across the UK need 5,000 blood donations every day to treat patients with a wide range of conditions, including traumatic injury, birth, blood disorders and cancer treatments.
Maisie Marsh, 17, has received more than 100 blood transfusions in her life.
Maisie, who has a rare blood condition called pyruvate kinase deficiency, said she hoped the initiative would encourage more young people to become blood donors.
A teaching assistant from Liverpool who hopes to learn to drive soon needs a blood transfusion to relieve her symptoms and help her live a normal life.
“A lot of people my age probably haven’t thought about donating blood. Having the option to sign up when applying for a driver’s license is a good way to get the message out to people who are the right age to start donating,” he said.
“I know firsthand the difference blood donors make.
“When I was young, blood transfusions were vital for my growth and development; now they help me stay healthy and live a normal life.
“People often associate blood transfusions with emergencies, but every day there are many people like me who need blood due to ongoing conditions.
“My family and I always ask people to donate blood if they can. It’s so easy and you’re saving lives.”
Altaf Kazi, assistant director of partnerships at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “You can both learn to drive and start donating blood at the age of 17, so this new partnership with the DVLA is a great opportunity for the NHS to reach more young people who have a lifetime of donors ahead of them.
“More than half of our regular donors are over the age of 45. We need more young people to become regular donors to ensure life-saving blood is there for patients who need it now and in the future.
“Giving blood is fast and easy. You can save up to three lives in just one hour. Please sign up today and book your first appointment.”
DVLA chief executive Tim Moss said: “We are proud to support NHS Blood and Transplant in encouraging more young people to become blood donors.
“With millions of driving license applications processed every year, the DVLA is in a unique position to help raise awareness and make it easier for people to take the first step.
“This simple addition to our digital services could help save lives.
“Young donors are vital to the future of the blood supply and we are delighted to play a part in helping more of them take part.”
