This Christmas Give Blood: the Gift Only You Can Give

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13 Nov, 2014, 17:01 GMT

Festively wrapped blood donors launch the NHS Blood and Transplantâeuro(TM)s call for people to give blood in the run up to Christmas at the Blood Donor Centre in Tooting. The campaign âeuro˜the gift only you can giveâeuro(TM) is calling for over 200,000 blood donations to maintain life-saving supplies over the Christmas period. (PRNewsFoto/NHS Blood and Transplant)

4 year old Reagan Robinson who suffers with rare blood disorder Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), (pictured in the middle) joins her sister Kennedy and festively wrapped donors as they launch the NHS Blood and Transplantâeuro(TM)s call for people to give blood over the Christmas period. Reagan needed 18 life-saving blood transfusions in the first two years of her life to treat her condition. Her sister Kennedy will donate for the first time after her 17th birthday in December. (PRNewsFoto/NHS Blood and Transplant)

LONDON, November 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

THIS CHRISTMAS more than 200,000 blood donors are needed to give a very special gift and help hundreds of thousands of patients.

Last year 1 in 5 blood donor appointments were missed over the festive period putting critical operation under unnecessary pressure.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141113/717117-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141113/717117-b )

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for more people across England and North Wales to make time this Christmas to give a gift only they can give and make a blood - or platelet - donation.

Jon Latham, NHS Blood and Transplant Assistant Director said: "Blood stock levels can drop dramatically over the busy festive period as Christmas shopping, celebrations and extended public holidays mean giving blood slips off the nation's to-do lists.

"At this time of year many people want to give something more than material gifts. A blood donation truly is the gift only you can give and with one single donation you can save or improve up to three lives.

"Don't worry if you've never given blood before -now is a great time to sign up and start giving."

Around 210,000 whole blood donations are needed over the coming six weeks to supply hospitals across England and North Wales treating patients with cancer and anaemias, after accidents or childbirth complications, and during surgery.

And over the festive period 12,500 platelet donations are needed to help treat patients with cancer, serious blood disorders and those who have undergone transplants.

Every blood donation is vital, but over winter months there is a particular need of a regular supply of group O Rh Negative to respond to patient need.

To book an appointment to donate and give the gift only you can give, visit http://www.blood.co.uk or call 0300-123-2323 to find your nearest session.

Notes to editors

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England and North Wales. It is also the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs
A unit of blood is measured as 470mls (or just under a pint)
There are four main blood groups - O, A, B and AB. A regular supply of all blood groups is vital - red cells last 35 days and platelets only 7 days.

Note to Editors:

A picture/s accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk .

SOURCE NHS Blood and Transplant