Letters disappear from street signs as part of National Blood Week campaign

  • Health
The Downing Street sign has lost the e'o' from its name Credit: NHS

The Downing Street sign has lost the 'o' in its name, and the letters 'a', 'o' and 'b' have disappeared from shop and hospital signs across the country as part of an awareness campaign to encourage people to give blood.

Street signs, shopfronts and brand labels have all been losing the letters of blood-types from their names to coincide with the NHS's drive to boost donor supplies during National Blood Week.

The NHS said the ‘Missing Type’ campaign was aimed at highlight the fact that if not enough new people donate supplies of these blood ‘types’ could go missing in future.

According to figures released by the health service over 204,000 new donors are needed to replace people who can’t donate anymore and to ensure the right mix of blood groups.

Jon Latham, Assistant Director for Donor Services and Marketing at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We simply can’t ignore the fact that there has been a stark reduction in the number of new donors coming forward, a trend seen across the world.

"While we can meet the needs ofpatients now, it’s important we strengthen the donor base for the future."

The campaign has already gained the support of hospitals, police departments and famous brands who have all been tweeting pictures of their adapted signs: