NHS Blood and Transplant is urging blood donors in Farnham to make and keep appointments to help make sure hospitals have the blood they need to treat patients this winter.

Farnham Maltings will be holding two blood donation sessions on Thursday, December 10, from 1pm to 3.30pm and 4.30pm to 7pm. The demand for life-saving blood and platelets continues 365 days a year and some people will spend part of their festive season seriously ill and in need of blood transfusions.

However, bad weather and busy schedules mean donations are expected to drop significantly. Colds and winter bugs will also temporarily rule many people out of being able to donate but hospitals will still rely on around 6,000 units of blood a day for patients.

Donations of vulnerable blood groups are expected to fall to their lowest point of the year over the festive period. These include zero negative blood and A negative platelets, which can be given to all patients. B negative blood stocks can also be vulnerable to shortfall. Only two per cent of donors have B negative blood.

Amanda Eccles, senior marketing co-ordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “This is the time of year when we need our amazing donors more than ever. If you can make and keep an appointment this December you will be doing an incredibly important thing – helping us to save and improve lives at a time when patients need every donor.

“Please make a date to donate now. Each blood donation you make can save or improve the lives of up to three people and platelet donors can help three adults or 12 children each time they donate.”

For more information call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or go to 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.