MP tables parliamentary motion in support of Northwest blood donor campaign

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has added his voice to the campaign to the NHS Blood and Transport (NHSBT) service's campaign to find 10,000 new blood donors in the Cumbria and the North West of England in 100 days.

The campaign launched this week is seeking to find 10,500 new blood donors across the region to help overcome shortfalls in blood stocks following a drop in donations in 2012. The NHSBT needs 225,000 new blood donors each year to make up for existing individual who drop out of the system. There is a particular need for young blood donors in the 17-24 age group, in which there has been a steady decline in numbers signing up of 20% over the past 10 years.

The campaign is backed by the stars of TV soap, Hollyoaks as well as fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, who has designed a limited edition range of 'Blood-Sister' and 'Blood-Brother' t-shirts to raise the profile of the campaign and encourage young people to sign up.

Tim has taken the campaign to get more people to give blood to Westminster by tabling and Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling on MPs and Councils across the North West to encourage their constituents to sign up to the campaign and give blood.

Commenting Tim said: "A blood transfusion can be the difference between someone living or dying during emergency surgery, but it can also make the difference in helping treat long term illnesses like cancer or support maternity care. That is why it is so important that as many people as possible sign up and give blood as soon as possible.

"With the decline in the number of people signing up there is a real risk that the hospitals could suffer real shortfalls in blood stocks so this is an absolutely vital campaign and I will be doing everything I can to help raise the profile of the campaign and encourage new donors to sign up."