Call for Western Isles workers to be given time off to donate blood

MSP Rhoda Grant

“National Blood Transfusion Service”

Businesses the Western Isles are being urged to give their employees time off work to donate blood, when the transfusion service visits Stornoway next week.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant , who recently led a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the subject, said that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) needs more people to come forward.

Mrs Grant said: “The SNBTS is facing an impending crisis in coming years unless the number of donors can be increased.

“Donor numbers have fallen over the years, recently reported as being at the lowest level for decades. One of the most common reasons for people not donating their blood is lack of time.

“I believe that employers, large and small, can play a part in improving the situation by allowing staff paid time off from work to attend donor sessions.

“I appreciate the current financial pressures many organisations are facing, but it is important to consider giving staff members the opportunity to donate blood without incurring financial penalties for this.”

“This has resulted in four new donors”

Mrs Grant added: “My constituency office staff have all been given the opportunity to donate blood in the past year, without having to take holidays or have their wages affected. This has resulted in four new donors.

“Giving blood is a truly altruistic gesture which does not take long and saves the lives of thousands of people throughout Scotland each year.”

The SNBTS is holding public donor sessions at The Macleod Memorial Hall, Kenneth Street, Stornoway on Tuesday March 16 from 3:30pm to 5pm and from 6pm to 9pm and on Wednesday March 17 from 10am to 12 noon, 1:30pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 8:30pm.

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