NORTHWEST NHSBT BLOOD DONOR CAMPAIGN

That this House supports the vital campaign launched by the NHS Blood and Transport service to find 10,000 new blood donors in Cumbria and the North West of England to meet current shortfalls in blood stocks in the region; recognises the particular need for young blood donors in the 17 to 24 age group which accounts for 40 per cent of the new need for donors; notes with concern the decline in the number of young people signing up to donate blood, which has gone down 20 per cent over the past decade; acknowledges that hospitals across England use 7,000 units of blood everyday and that each unit saves or improves the lives of up to three people; further acknowledges that over a lifetime some donors can help more than 500 people through their blood donations; welcomes the support of television soap Hollyoaks and fashion designer Wayne Hemingway in helping to raise the profile of the campaign; and calls on hon. Members and councils across the North West to promote the campaign and encourage lots of people, especially those in the 17 to 24 age group, to sign up and donate blood to ensure blood stocks are sufficient to support hospitals through the holiday period.