Cotswold people urged to be brave and give blood (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

More blood needed from the Cotswolds and Wiltshire

12:00pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News

PEOPLE in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire are being urged by the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to brave the cold and the dark to give blood this month.

With an ever constant demand for blood stocks, donors are being reminded that it only takes an hour to save a life and new donors are being urged to come along too.

Donated blood is used not only in accident and emergency situations but also for patients undergoing surgery and receiving treatment for cancer and blood diseases, such as leukaemia.

Dominic Sutherland, lead donor relations manager for NHSBT, said: “We know that the drop in temperature, the end of summer and the beginning of a new school term has meant that many of our donors have had to change their routines.

“Now that people are back to their normal schedules, we would like to remind donors and those that are thinking of donating for the first time, about the constant demand for blood and inform them that now is a great time to prepare for the upcoming winter months.”

Anyone aged between 17 - 65, weighing more than 50 kg (7 stone 12lb) 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.

The mobile NHSBT unit will be at the Bingham Hall, Cirencester, tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23, for sessions between 1.15 and 3.30pm and again from 4.15 to 7pm.

Next Wednesday, October 31, the unit will be at the Memorial Hall, Tanners Close, Royal Wootton Bassett for sessions between 10am to 12.30pm and again from 1.45 to 4.30pm.

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