DONORS are being encouraged to give blood during the Easter holidays to ensure NHS Blood and Transplant has the amount to meet demand.

Hospitals across England need more than 6,000 donations every day to treat patients and stocks are more vulnerable to shortfall around public holidays, as people take days out or go away on holiday.

The Oxford Donor Centre in the John Radcliffe Hospital will be open throughout the Easter holidays from Monday, April 17 to Friday, April 21 with two late evenings. It takes less than an hour to donate.

Lillie Christie, nine, needed 10 blood transfusions over two years at the JR after a severe drop in her blood haemoglobin level in October 2013.

Richard Christie, Lillie’s father, from Swindon, said: “We are eternally grateful to all the selfless people who are willing give blood to help people like our daughter.

“She wouldn’t be with us now without blood donors. We cannot thank them enough.”

Blood or components of it are used to treat patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders and those having surgery.

Every donation is vital but supplies of O negative and rarer types A negative and B negative are particularly sought.

People from black and Asian ethnic backgrounds are also needed. Some disorders such as sickle cell disease are more common in patients from these backgrounds, who need well-matched blood.

Karen Healy, senior marketing coordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Why not swap a chocolate egg for a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit at your Oxford Donor Centre? Every blood donation can help save or improve up to three lives.

“ We would like to thank all our blood donors for their dedication.”

For more information or to book an appointment visit blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 2323.