Call for more blood donors as registration spot opens

Residents will have the opportunity to help save lives by registering to donate blood and plasma this weekend.

A team from NHS Blood & Transplant will run a donor drive at Bubbling Well Square, at the heart of the Ram Quarter development in Wandsworth High Street from 10am until 5pm on Saturday.

NHS staff will be on hand for one-to-one conversations to answer any questions about the donation process and eligibility.

No blood will be taken on the day, but the staff will be able to help you book an appointment to donate.

As a token of appreciation for registering, prospective donors will be offered an on-the-spot finger-prick blood type test to reveal their likely blood type, with the result available within 10 minutes.

Blood and plasma donations help people in emergency situations as well as those fighting cancers, blood disorders, immune disorders and genetic conditions.

Most people can donate if they are between the age of 17 and 65, and weigh between 50kg and 158kg.

Black and Asian donors are particularly welcome due to a high demand for blood types that are more common in those groups, and for the higher prevalence of the universal blood type.

Those looking to visit can book their 10-minute slot here, but all will be welcome at any time.

(Picture: Kirill Dratsevich, Pexels)