NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for new and existing blood donors in Tooting to make a resolution to help ensure life-saving supplies this New Year.

By giving blood, you could save or transform three people’s lives with every donation.

Hospitals in England and North Wales need around 6,100 units of blood and 330 units of platelets every day to treat patients.

In January alone, 145,000 blood and 10,000 platelet donations are needed. And in 2015, 200,000 new donors are needed to replace those no longer able to donate through ill health, pregnancy or some foreign travel.

NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for more people in Tooting to make time to book an appointment to give blood or make a platelet donation.

Nicola Buckley, Senior Marketing Co-ordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “The beginning of the year is a great time to make changes to your lifestyle. And it is the perfect time to give blood. If knowing that your blood is helping to save sick and injured people isn’t satisfaction enough, we can also guarantee donors a warm welcome, a refreshing drink and a biscuit when they donate. This year, make a resolution you will want to keep and help us save lives at the same time.”

Whole blood donations treat patients with cancer and anaemias, after accidents or childbirth complications, and during surgery. Platelets – small cells within blood – are collected separately, and treat those with cancer, serious blood disorders and transplant patients.

Every blood donation is vital, but over winter months NHS Blood and Transplant particularly needs to ensure supplies of the universal blood group O Rh negative which is often in short supply as demand is so great. We also need to ensure supplies of the rarer blood groups A Rh negative, B Rh negative and AB Rh negative as these are vulnerable to shortfall.

It’s also important that blood donations represent the country’s diverse population. Some rare blood groups and some blood disorders are more common among ethnic communities. For certain conditions, for example sickle cell anaemia, it is beneficial for patients to receive blood from the same ethnic background.

While 14% of people living in England and North Wales are black, Asian or of an ethnic minority, only 4% of active blood donors are from these communities.

To book an appointment to donate and give the gift only you can give, visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 2323 to find your nearest session. Local centres can be found here.

It is also easy to book through mobile apps for Windows, Android and Apple devices. To download the app, search 'NHSGiveBlood' in the relevant app store.