Blood plea to ethnic minorities

Mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds are being urged to donate umbilical cord blood to save lives.

Cord blood, which remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after birth, is rich in stem cells that can help patients whose bone marrow is not working, including cancer patients undergoing treatment.

But people from ethnic minority backgrounds have to wait significantly longer to find a matched donor. Prasharnie Pushpanathan, 34, donated her cord blood when she gave birth to daughter, Raya, in May 2010. Ms Pushpanathan, who works for NHS Blood and Transplant and trains staff at Barnet General Hospital, said: "For me, donating my cord blood was a small gesture that has an amazing impact."

Rachael Hough, a consultant haematologist at University College Hospital, said: "If we reach our target of 50,000 units as many as 200 lives could be saved every year."