I’M sure that after all that turkey and trifle, your readers are thinking of their New Year’s resolutions.

Instead of giving something up, we’re asking them to give blood.

Donating blood saves lives. It’s an easy resolution to keep and easy to start.

During 2013, blood donors across England and north Wales helped save and transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients and we are grateful to each and every one of them for taking the time to donate.

We’re looking forward to welcoming them again in 2014 as they continue to save lives.

But there will be lots of your readers who haven’t donated before, or haven’t done so for a while, and we’re asking them to come forward and register as a blood donor.

Becoming a blood donor is easy. All people need to do is visit blood.co.uk, register and book an appointment.

Make an important resolution this year. To save lives as a blood donor.

JON LATHAM NHS Blood and Transplant