Blood donor numbers up in 2009

There was a slight increase in the number of people who donated blood last year.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Board said 95,858 people gave blood in 2009, an increase of 307 people from 2008.

In its report for 2009, the IBTS said the focus of the company was on cutting costs and has warned that there will be significant changes in working practices in the future in order to achieve more savings.