Kate Garraway has said she feels “emotional” that more and more people are coming forward to donate life-saving blood plasma to help coronavirus patients.
The Good Morning Britain host was told by Professor Mike Murphy that, since her original plea last week, three times the number of people have signed up to try and help out.
Kate, 53, said this morning: “I feel quite emotional about this and the idea that talking about this is making people want to come forward and save lives.”
She and co-host Adil Ray, 46, were joined by virtual guests Professor Mike Murphy, comedian Hal Cruttenden who has donated plasma, and Ann Kitchen, who described the donations as “liquid gold” after they helped her feel better.
Kate had wanted to donate blood plasma to Derek but was unable to (Image: Daily Star, Daily Mirror, Daily Express)
Kate said: “Last week it was something that came to light as a useful tool, I was asking if I could back in April for Derek.”
The mum-of-two went on: “Then it was pre the first trials for Covid so I wasn’t allowed to, because they didn’t know how safe it was for Derek or anybody else involved.”
Comedian Hal, who had the coronavirus and had recovered, making him an ideal donor, said: “It’s so easy, there’s nothing to be worried about.”
GMB spoke to Ann who had benefited from the blood plasma donations (Image: ITV)
He explained: “I used to have a hang up about donating blood but after doing it once, it was so easy. You get biscuits and tea.
“It is always lovely to save a life doing something that’s really very easy, we all feel so powerless at the moment and just to be able to do something does cheer you up.”
Meanwhile, Ann was grateful after the donation she’d received from someone.
Kate has been applauded by the NHS after donations increased greatly (Image: ITV)
She said that after just a “couple of days” she was feeling somewhat better and was getting her appetite back.
She explained: “I hadn’t been eating very well and a lovely nurse in charge came in with a cooked breakfast and I could smell it – I felt like I wanted to eat for the first time.
“It was a couple of days and I felt the difference.”
A spokesperson from NHS Blood and Transplant applauded Kate and the show after the number of donations dramatically increased.
They said: “The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus offering to donate plasma was 293% the normal last Monday after Kate spoke about her own desire to donate, following her husband’s illness.
“We’re really grateful to Kate and Good Morning Britain for covering donation again today because we urgently people to donate now, to help during any second wave.
“If you’ve had coronavirus, you could saves lives by donating plasma. You could give the NHS the first treatment which actually attacks the virus. Register to donate at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
