Work on a new blood transfusion unit and a blood bank in Attard is due to start this year, Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar said this afternoon.

The new blood bank will be built near Mount Carmel Hospital, with €2.5 million allocated for it this year.

Dr Cassar was speaking at the handing over of the newly-refurbished blood donations mobile unit. The refurbishing was partly sponsored by the GO group.

Dr Cassar underlined the need for more blood donations. He said 15,000 people donated blood last year, an increase of 1,663 donors.

He said the mobile unit would help the authorities to be closer to the community and in a better position to encourage more people to donate blood.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Blood Transfusion Unit said that following last week's appeals, the supply of blood in now normal.

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