Sir – I would like to thank all our blood and platelet donors for their donations during April. Faced with two long holiday weekends in a row at the end of the month, we needed to build up blood stocks in advance.

We asked our donors to make a special effort to give blood and they certainly did. During April, with the help of regular donors and some new ones, our stock levels increased. This enabled us to continue to meet the needs of patients throughout the extended holidays.

To help us maintain the vital supply of blood to hospitals we need blood donors to donate regularly, up to three times a year, especially those who are O negative and B negative. New donors are always welcome too. First-time donors should be aged between 17-65, weighing at least 50kg (7 stone 12lb) and in general good health. If you’ve donated before, you can start again up to your 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years. To book an appointment please call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk

Jon Latham, Assistant director of blood donation, NHS Blood and Transplant