About Us

Who we are

The Welsh Blood Service plays a vital role in giving thousands of people across Wales and internationally a lifeline in their time of greatest need. Thanks to generosity of our donors across the country, we’re able to help patients in need, from saving someone’s life to helping others live theirs. We are the primary supplier of blood products to NHS Wales.

We strive to provide our donors and patients with the best possible experience and deliver safe, high-quality, modern and efficient laboratory, diagnostic and transplant services.

To provide a safe blood supply chain, we meet the high standards of our regulators and auditors, such as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Human Tissue Authority (HTA), UK Accreditation Services (UKAS), and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Blood and transplantation are evolving areas of healthcare that encompass a broad and transferable set of skills.

Donations are processed and tested at the laboratories based in Welsh Blood Service headquarters in Talbot Green, Llantrisant, before distribution to customer hospitals throughout Wales. We also have bases across the country, including a Stock Holding Unit and staff base in Wrexham and two staff bases in Bangor, and Dafen, Llanelli.

The Welsh Blood Service laboratory services also operate as a reference centre for complex blood transfusion patients ensuring they receive the blood transfusions to meet their specific needs, and support routine testing across Wales to help mothers and babies through their pregnancy.

We support the solid organ and stem cell transplant programmes that run out of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and manage the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which provides stem cell products nationally and internationally as well as managing the UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme for Histocompatibility and Immuno-genetics (NEQAS) an international quality assessment service.

The Welsh Blood Service is an operating division of Velindre University NHS Trust. Click here to find out more about the Trust.

What we do

We provide a safe, accessible and effective blood service for :

donors – providing a blood donation service donors and supporters can be proud of
patients – ensuring safe and consistent supply of blood across Wales
the NHS – providing lower costs to hospitals through improved integration and planning of an end-to-end supply chain.

Our vision is:

To be recognised by the people of Wales and our peers as a leader in transplant and transfusion services.

More about blood donation

Click here if you want to find out if you are eligible to give blood.
Click here to find out what to expect when giving blood.
Click here to find out what happens to your blood and how your blood is tested.

What happens after you donate?

More about blood transfusion

You can find out more about blood transfusions by visiting the Blood Health National Oversight Group (BHNOG) website here.

You can go to the BHNOG patient leaflets by clicking here.

You can book a blood donation session here.

Our History

You can read about the history of blood services for Wales and the Welsh Blood Service, established in 2016 here.

Welsh Blood Service’s 5 Year Strategy 2023-2028

Our leadership team

The Welsh Blood Service is an operating division of Velindre University NHS Trust. You can find out about the Trust’s leadership team, including the Director of the Welsh Blood Service by clicking here.

The Trust’s Board is accountable for Governance, Risk Management and Internal Control for the Welsh Blood Service. You can read about the Board’s role, find meeting agendas, papers and minutes by clicking here.

Infected Blood Inquiry

Find out more about the Infected Blood Inquiry and how the Welsh Blood Service supported the Inquiry in undertaking its work by clicking here.

Read about how the Welsh Blood Service has supported the Inquiry with its work here.

Find answers to commons questions about the Inquiry and its work here.