LOCAL MP Seema Malhotra has paid a visit to Lampton School in Hounslow to encourage pupils to think about becoming blood donors.

Her visit on Friday April 26 tied-in with a presentation from blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, as part of its Register and Be a Lifesaver (R&Be) education programme for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Ms Malhotra, the Labour MP for Feltham & Heston, recently introduced a 10 Minute Rule Bill into the House of Commons calling for blood, organ and bone marrow donation education for over 16s in schools and colleges to tackle a shortage of registered donors in the UK.

She said: "Education about blood, organ, and bone marrow donation is essential for giving young people the information and awareness to make the decision to be a donor, and enable the NHS to save more lives. Introducing this education is a vital measure for securing a long-term solution to address the donor shortage. "

Anthony Nolan uses its register to match potential bone marrow donors to blood cancer patients, such as people with leukaemia, in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

Mike Baxter, acting head of sixth form at Lampton School, added: “It was fantastic to see our students so passionate about the opportunity to save a life. I would thoroughly recommend the programme to any schools thinking of hosting a Register and Be a Lifesaver presentation.”

Katie Campling, the Register and Be a Lifesaver Supervisor at Anthony Nolan, said: “It is fantastic to see local schools and politicians engaged with our education programme about donation.”

To join the register visit www.anthonynolan.org