Greasby man praised by PM after being UK’s top blood donor

Nov 4 2009 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

A GREASBY man who has given more blood than anyone else in the UK – 19 gallons – was praised by Gordon Brown after the Prime Minister invited him to 10 Downing Street.

Tom Kelly, 72, first gave blood in his early 20s when serving with the Royal Artillery.

Blood stocks were so low that soldiers were forced to donate, to maintain levels at military hospitals.

Ever since Tom has made sure he gave blood as often as he could.

His incredible 156 trips to the bloodbank throughout his life is even more remarkable considering individuals are only allowed to make three donations per year.

Tom said: “I saw people in theatre and saw how important it was to give blood. I used to go down to the hospital’s bloodbank quite regularly and knew people’s lives depended on a good supply of blood.”

Around 280 pints are issued to Merseyside hospitals from the bloodbank in Speke, Liverpool everyday. Each unit can help up to three people, or seven newborn babies.

Pam Prescott of the National Blood Service said: “It’s an incredible achievement for Tom to have reached such a milestone in donating blood and it's great that the Prime Minister has acknowledged his efforts.

“The National Blood Service relies on people like Tom who spend time giving selflessly to help save the lives of others.

“Local hospitals need hundreds of units of blood every day to treat patients, so the need for blood is constant and without our donors this wouldn’t be possible.”

In his 50 years of donation, Tom has given around 19 gallons, or the equivalent to 19 human bodies, of blood.

Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford accompanied Tom and his wife Jean to London.

He said: “It was a real pleasure to present Mr and Mrs Kelly to the Prime Minister by way of further recognition of Mr Kelly’s selfless contribution to our local health service over the years.”