Please come along and give blood.

1pm - 3.30pm and 4.30pm - 7pm.

The National Blood Service (NBS) – part of NHS Blood and Transplant – is asking people to spare an hour of their time in 2010 to donate blood.

Fay Simcox from NHSBT said “The need for blood never stops. Now Christmas is over and things are beginning to quieten down we are urging people to come along to their nearest blood session to give a donation.”

A single donation can be broken into three component parts (red cells, plasma and platelets) which means that your one donation can help save or improve the lives of up to three people.

Blood stocks are used up in a matter of days so the NBS counts on people continuing to step forward to donate blood. Certain blood products only have a shelf life of five days so the NBS need to constantly renew their stocks.

Fay Simcox continued: “We are very grateful to donors who continually come forward year after year to help save lives. It is an altruistic act and we hope others follow in their footsteps. Why not make 2010 a year of giving and pledge to give at least one donation?”

The NBS needs to collect 7,000 donations of blood each day to supply hospitals in England and north Wales with the blood products needed to treat patients. Blood is used for a wide-range of medical procedures including cancer care, general surgery, in maternity care and for accident and emergency situations.

Anyone aged between 17-65, weighing more than 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor. There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years. To book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit the website