Labour in blood donations plea

LABOUR today urged people to make a trip to the Blood Transfusion Service to give someone the gift of life.

Every minute of every day someone in Scotland is receiving blood as part of a life-saving or life-enhancing treatment – but only five per cent of Scots are active blood donors.

The Blood Transfusion Service in Scotland needs 5000 donations each week to keep stocks at safe levels.

Labour public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said: “I have seen myself how vital donated blood is in hospitals. There is no adequate substitute and it saves lives.”