WITH the festive season fast approaching, residents of West Devon and East Cornwall are being urged to think about giving a different gift this year — their blood.

The NHS Blood and Transplant Service is urging people in the area to give blood before things get too hectic to help ensure patients get the blood they need in the lead up to, and over, the festive period.

Donors are being asked to book an appointment to give blood before Christmas if they have not already done so, and to keep their appointment if they have already made one.

Blood is always needed, with hospitals in England and North Wales requiring around 6,000 units of blood every day to treat a range of patients. To keep stocks healthy as the festive season approaches and over the holiday period, donors are urged to remember to donate between now and Christmas.

It is important that vital blood stocks are maintained at all times, as red blood cells have a shelf life of just 35 days and platelets a shelf life of only seven days. NHS Blood and Transplant needs to collect enough blood in the right quantities of each type to meet patient needs. Donations from all blood groups, but especially from O- negative, B- negative and A- negative donors, are needed in the run up to Christmas.

Karen Healy, senior marketing co-ordinator at NHSBT, said: ‘We know it is a busy time of year and will only get busier as the festive season approaches. That’s why we’re urging our donors to book an appointment to give blood before Christmas, if they don’t already have one.

‘And we’d ask our donors to please keep their appointments over the coming weeks to help us keep blood stocks healthy and help hospital patients this winter.’

While many people think that blood is used mainly for accidents and emergencies, donated blood is vital for a wide variety of life-saving procedures. This includes helping to save the life of a new mother during or after childbirth or treating patients with blood disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, which require regular transfusions.

lTavistock Methodist Church will host donations sessions on Tuesday, November 17 and Tuesday, December 8.

l Okehampton’s Charter Hall will next host donation sessions on Thursday, November 12 and Thursday, December 17.

l Chagford Jubilee Hall will host a session on Monday, December 21.

l Callington Town Hall will next host a donation session on Monday, November 16.

l Yelverton War Memorial Hall will next hold a session on December 31.

Each session has a variety of times for people to donate. Most visits have two sessions — one in the early afternoon and one in the late afternoon and early evening. Yelverton memorial hall has a morning and afternoon session.

To book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk

It is also easy to book through mobile apps for Windows, Android and Apple devices. To download the app, search ‘NHSGiveBlood’ in the app store.