More people gave blood in Carlisle last year than before the pandemic, new figures show.

This comes as the NHS pushes for more to register ahead of World Blood Donor Day.

Each year the NHS’s Blood and Transplant division publishes figures on donations ahead of the annual event, which falls on June 14 and raises awareness of the need for safe blood around the globe.

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Head of blood donation marketing for NHS Blood and Transplant, Alex Cullen, said: "The NHS needs more donors over the next five years of all blood types.

"We especially need more Black African and Black Caribbean donors to help patients with sickle cell.

"A mass public campaign is being held this National Blood Week and throughout June to identify people with most needed blood types. This year we’re encouraging more people to donate and find out their blood type, it’s quick and easy."

Figures from NHSBT show 2,021 people gave blood in Carlisle in the year to March – an increase on 1,978 the year before, and higher than the year to March 2020, when 1,942 people donated.

The organisation said demand for blood dropped during the pandemic as hospitals suspended routine care – but more donors are now needed to due to a drop in recruitment and hospital activity picking up again.

It has set a target of nearly 175,000 new donors nationally, including 20,358 across the North West, to make up for the shortfall.

The NHS is particularly short of blood types O negative and B negative, and is encouraging people to get tested to see if they have in-demand, rare blood that could save lives.

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Figures for Carlisle show 305 new donors gave blood for the first time in the year to March – a rise from 185 the year before, but higher than the year to March 2020, when 265 people donated for the first time.

The number of new people registering to give blood in the area is below pre-pandemic levels, with 545 people registering in 2021-22, compared to 693 in 2019-20.