The Christmas period is one of NHS Blood and Transplant's most challenging throughout the entire calendar year. Demand for blood products can increase at an unpredictable rate, and cancellations and non-attends can creep up, making our ability to provide the right product at the right time problematic.

NHS Blood and Transplant consistently needs new donors from all backgrounds in order to meet the demand for blood by hospitals and ensure there is the right blood available for patients who need it.

They need:

• Nearly 400 new donors a day to meet demand
• Around 135,000 new donors a year to replace those who can no longer donate
• 40,000 more black donors to meet growing demand for better-matched blood
• 30,000 new donors with priority blood types such as O negative every year
• More young people to start giving blood so we can make sure we have enough blood in the future

Support NHS Blood and Transplant at the Nottingham Donor Centre, North Church Street, NG1 4BR this festive season. They're open between 9.05am and 7.30pm seven days a week.

It takes just 7-10 minutes to donate a unit of blood, with the whole appointment likely to be within an hour. In donating blood you can help to save and improve the lives of up to 3 adults or 6 children.

It is vital that we protect blood collection at all costs. If you’ve booked an appointment, please do attend or amend it with plenty of notice so that your slot can be offered to someone else.