Give blood for bank holiday

3:15pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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RESIDENTS are being asked to roll up their sleeves and back an appeal to help the National Blood Service stock up on 160 new blood donations in time for the bank holiday weekend.

Regular and new donors are being urged to join blood-giving sessions in Billericay, Wickford, Stanford-le-Hope and Chafford Hundred as the usual predicted shortfall in blood stock levels approaches.

Gareth Bell, spokesman for the National Blood Service, said: "During the bank holiday we will see around a 10 per cent fall in stocks.

"This may sound fairly insignificant, but when you consider we turn them over in around seven to eight days it can make a huge difference.

"Stocks are healthy at the moment, which is great news, but we do really need more people to pick up the phone to book appointments.

"The whole process only takes around an hour and every donation is absolutely vital."

Sessions will be held on Friday, at the Methodist Church Hall, in High Street, Stanford-le-Hope, from 2pm to 4pm and again from 5pm to 7.30pm.

On Sunday at Wickford Community Centre, in Market Road, Wickford, between 9.30am and 12.30pm and then from 2.30pm to 4pm.

On Wednesday, May 28 at Drake Community Centre, Drake Road, Chafford Hundred, 2pm to 4pm and again from 5pm to 7.45pm.

On Thursday, May 29, at Billericay Methodist Church, in Western Road, Billericay between 2pm and 4pm, then 5pm to 7pm.

In most cases, anyone aged from 17 to 59, who is generally healthy and weighs over 7st 12lbs, can give blood. Regular donors can keep giving up until their 70th birthday.

For more information contact the service's helpline on 0845 7711711.

Appointments are available for all blood donor sessions, but donors can also walk-in on the day.

Your waiting time will be reduced with an appointment. More information can also be found by logging on to www.blood.co.uk