OXFORDSHIRE blood donors are being called on to boost blood banks this Christmas as the rest of country battles snow and ice.
The NHS needs 7,000 voluntary donations of blood daily to supply hospitals across the country, with hundreds needed in Oxfordshire alone.
But there have been about 2,000 fewer donations nationally because staff and donors have been unable to battle through the snow and ice to get to donor sessions.
NHS Blood and Transplant is also faced with the annual reduction in blood donor sessions over the two-week Christmas period.
Spokesman Jon Latham said it was vital for sessions in areas less affected by the freezing spell to go ahead.
He said: “We need to make sure that we make the most of the sessions that are going ahead to try to make up for the losses in other areas.”
To book an appointment or find out about your local session, call the helpline on 0300 123 23 23 or visit blood.co.uk
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