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MSP’s staff signing up to give blood

09 June 2009

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, is calling on employers across the area to play their part to help ease the nation’s blood shortage.

Despite a recent publicity campaign which increased the number of donors, there is still too few giving. The number across Scotland has fallen by 30,000 in the last decade.

Mrs Grant said: "Across the North, over 20,000 donors are needed this year alone to support the blood transfusion service.

"In order to encourage more people to give their time, I’m calling on business to allow their employees paid time off to donate.

"It’s now more than ever that we’re seeing the effects of the shortage of supplies in our communities and if employers act to help it will be to everyone’s benefit.

Mrs Grant added: "it takes around 30 minutes to give blood, so hardly any time at all would be lost to employers who back this idea.

" My constituency office staff are all here today to do their part, and I hope that many other employers will follow suit and help their employees to spare some time and possibly save a life."

Rhoda Grant has lodged the following motion in Parliament.

Giving Blood, Giving the Gift of Life 

That the Parliament notes with concern the decline in the number of blood donors in Scotland, a number that has decreased by 30,000 in the last decade; further notes that in the Highlands alone, the service requires 23,000 donors to give blood in 2009; supports the appeal by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service for donors to give blood at least once in 2009 to reverse the decline in the donor base; believes that there would be benefit in employers giving their staff paid time off to donate blood, and hopes that Scots who have not already done so will register to give blood and give the gift of life.