IT CAN be the gift of life – and NHS Blood and Transplant are hoping that donors will roll up their sleeves to give blood over the festive period.

More than 200,000 blood donors are needed in the run-up to Christmas to keep supplies flowing to hospitals in England and North Wales treating patients with cancer and anaemia, following accidents or childbirth complications, and during surgery.

There will be a blood donor session at Carnival Hall, in Council Road, Basingstoke, on Christmas Eve from 10am to 2pm when people can donate their blood to help patients in need.

Emma Gale, senior marketing manager at NHS Blood and Transplant, 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.”

Every blood donation is vital but during the winter months, NHS Blood and Transplant particularly needs to ensure supplies of the universal blood group O Rh Negative, which is often in short supply because demand is so great. Supplies of the rarer blood groups A Rg Negative, B Rh Negative and AB Rh Negative are also needed.

NHS Blood and Transplant faces extra pressure this year because Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall ahead of a weekend, which has sparked concerns that fewer donors than usual will get round to making life-saving donations during the festive period.

To book an appointment to donate blood, and to find out more about what it takes to be a donor, visit blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 2323. Appointments can also be made through mobile apps for Windows, Android and Apple devices. Download by searching NHSGiveBlood in the app store.