Appeal for blood as donors plummet
The number of regular blood donors has fallen by almost a quarter in the last decade.
The amount of donors who frequently give blood has fallen by 23 per cent in the last 10 years, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said. To mark National Blood Week, the organisation is trying to recruit more young blood donors and encouraging “lapsed donors” to start donating again.
“Over the last ten years the number of regular donors has fallen by almost a quarter (23 per cent),” said spokesman Jon Latham. “We want to build up the number of donors so we can maintain a steady supply of blood, which has a short shelf life, to help save and improve patient lives.
“Giving blood is easy, doesn’t take long to do and can help up to three people.”