Donated blood is vital for a wide variety of life-saving procedures in local hospitals. Patients undergoing major surgery and emergency treatment often require blood transfusions, but perhaps less well-known is the fact that blood is essential to the treatment for many different types of cancer and blood disorders.

With thousands of patients receiving blood transfusions every year, NHS Blood and Transplant is challenging members if the public to register as a new blood donor and have a test after completing the registration form to find out their likely blood type and book an appointment.