New donors needed to safeguard future of blood service

450 bags of blood are needed every day in Wales, to meet demand and save patients' lives.

There's now calls for 13,000 new donors to sign up every year to keep stocks healthy and to safeguard blood donations for future generations.

Over the last 10 years, there's been a 34% drop in the number of donations.

The Welsh Blood Service is uniting with blood donor organisations across 21 countries to highlight the issue and to try encourage more people to come forward to give blood.

Credit: PA images

Here's a few facts about blood donation in Wales:

  • In the financial year 16/17 it is predicted 104,000 units will be needed to support hospitals in Wales.

  • The Welsh Blood Service process and distribute blood components to 19 customer hospitals

  • The average age of a blood donor donating is 43.7 years old

  • The main uses of donated blood are to treat patients with medical conditions like anaemia, cancer and other blood disorders

Alexandra Lodge reports.