Donate breaks | Firms give staff time off to donate blood - NHS calls for more to follow

In a major move to tackle the ongoing blood shortage in England, major UK firms have pledged to give employees 'Donate Breaks’ - dedicated time off to donate blood during their working day.

Well-known organisations from The Co-operative Bank, ITV, Hargreaves Lansdown, Gatenby Sanderson through to Basketball England, Millwall FC and Alton Towers Resort are among those taking part in the initiative.

With a critical need to boost blood stocks, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is urging more companies to do the same and help save more lives this winter.

A new survey of more than 3,000 blood donors, carried out by NHS Blood and Transplant, shows 43 per cent of donors would be more likely to donate blood if given time off to do so by their employer. This rises to 65 per cent for those aged between 25-44.