Call for blood donors in Scotland due to concerns about drop in numbers amid the coronavirus pandemic

A call is being made for more blood donors in Scotland after a decrease in the number of them due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) say hospitals across the country have been supplied by the smallest pool of blood donors this century.

In the build up to Christmas, the organisation are asking people to register as a blood donor, or to return and donate if they have not given for a while.

Between 2019 and last year, active blood donors in Scotland fell from more than 105,000 to less than 92,000.

That represents a real-time reduction of nearly 13% and it means 13,000 fewer people gave blood in a single year.

Despite this, the donor base starting to rebuild this year and Scotland now has 96,000 active blood donors.

But SNBTS need new donors to come forward during the festive period, or those who have got out of the habit to return and donate.

Those interested in donating blood can visit the Scotblood website and take a quiz to check if they are eligible to do so.

The website also has a guide on what happens before, during and after giving blood.

As well as helping patients in need and making sure that the NHS has enough supply, those who donate blood can get the chance to enjoy a snack afterwards for their efforts.

Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher from the service has been asked by Anas Hassan how easy it is to donate blood: