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Christmas is not a time for the NHS to stop – patients need life-saving blood all year round. And staff memebers are reminding residents that it’s vital that anyone who books to give blood this Christmas period sticks to their appointment.

Each donation can save up to three lives.

Mike Stredder, director of blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant, says: “We need 400 people to register as new donors every day to maintain the blood supply, for the best chance of keeping hearts pumping.”

A number of sessions are taking place in Cathedral Court, Church Street, Sheffield over the festive period including Tuesday, December 24, from 1.35pm to 3.45pm, Currently this session is only 69 per cent full.

On Thursday, December 26, from 8am to 3.45pm a session will take place – currently this is only 29 per cent full.

A session will also take place on Tuesday, December 31, from 8am to 3.45pm, currently this session is only 12 per cent full.

The appeal comes after it was revelaed young men in Sheffield are being urged to get involved in blood donation after new figures reveal women aged 17-34-year-old from Sheffield are 45 per cent more likely to donate than local men the same age.

The latest figures show young people in England have the biggest gender gap in blood donation. And a similar picture is emerging in Sheffield.