PEOPLE in Kent are being urged to give blood to stop the number of donors plummeting each year.

The National Blood Service has seen a drop of nearly 13,000 donors attending sessions across the South East in the last year, a seven per cent decreass, while the service nationally has seen a 20 per cent drop over the past six years.

In response to the decline, the regional service conducted a survery of 300 current and potential donors in South East that showed many people were looking for a more flexible service, such as session held on weekday evenings or at weekends somewhere closer to home

Mark Rowland, Area Donor Services Manager for Kent, said: “We do have many loyal donors who give blood regularly. But the fact is we are seeing a decline in numbers coming through the doors, and some of our donors are telling us that the service we provide just isn’t flexible enough.

"That’s why we have to make sure the service adapts to encourage new donors, while also ensuring that current donors have the flexibility they need to continue to donate much needed blood."

Up to 7,000 units of blood need to be collected across the country every day to meet the needs of patients and hospitals.

Although most people can give blood, only 4 per cent of those who can actually do and the service said initiatives like those being introduced in the South East were designed to make it as convenient as possible for new and existing donors to play their part in saving and improving patients’ lives.

To become a blood donor or for more information, call the National Donor Helpline on 08457 711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk