Plasma medicine recipient thanks donors

A woman who has relied on plasma-derived medicines for 22 years has met local plasma donors to thank them and share how donations have improved her life.

Margaret Bennett, a 73-year-old retired teacher from Birmingham, has needed the medicines to manage an immune condition called Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID).

Without the medicines made from human plasma, Mrs Bennett would be unable to fight off infections, leading to serious illness.

As a former teacher, she often found herself battling common colds and infections but would struggle more than her colleagues to shake off the effects.

"I said to my doctor, 'yes I am a teacher but so are all my friends and they are not ill all the time'," she said.

After many tests, she was diagnosed with CVID, which significantly weakens the immune system.

Mrs Bennett received her first intravenous immunoglobulin infusion in August 2003 and has since been treated with different types of immunoglobulin products, all derived from donated plasma.

"Plasma-derived medicines make a huge difference in my ability to live my life, to travel, to see family, and to spend time with my friends without constantly being poorly," Mrs Bennett said.

"I am so grateful for the medical teams and donors who help patients like me, to enjoy a better quality of life all year round"

Mrs Bennett recently paid a visit to the NHS Blood and Transplant plasma donor centre, in New Street, Birmingham, meeting some of the donors and speaking about how it made a difference to her life.

One of those donors was Benedict Reeves, who said: "Before meeting Margaret, I knew donating plasma was important, but hearing her story and how plasma-derived medicines help patients is truly inspiring.

"I can now imagine more clearly the impact my donation can make on someone's life and it encourages me to keep on donating.

"It's humbling to know that something so simple can make such a difference in someone's life."

Mark Bailey, Birmingham Plasma Donor Centre manager, said: "It has been incredible to have Margaret here to meet some our donors who were grateful to her for sharing her story and seeing and hearing the difference that their life-saving donations can make."

The year 2025 marked a significant milestone for the UK's plasma for medicines programme.

In March, NHS patients started receiving lifesaving medicines made from plasma donated by blood and plasma donors in England for the first time in 25 years, after a long-standing ban was lifted.

Within the first six months alone, more than 2,200 people in the UK benefited from immunoglobulin made from UK-donated plasma.

Making a plea for donors to book donor appointments, Mrs Bennett said: "Many patients who rely on regular infusions need their treatments during this time of year to fight off winter illnesses, which could otherwise severely impact our health and even leave us needing urgent hospital treatment.

"Seeing so many people here today, giving up their spare time to donate plasma, is incredibly moving. Their selflessness will help patients who are depending on these life-changing medicines."

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