Sir Ed Davey's attempt to give blood and help the NHS "beat the winter crisis" has been scuppered by his summer holiday to the south of France. The Liberal Democrat leader was set to donate at the Brixton Donor Centre on Friday, but was told it could not go ahead after filling in the paperwork.
Mosquito-Borne Virus Risk
The setback follows Sir Ed's recent summer family holiday to France, where some areas pose a risk of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses. The NHS asks anyone who has visited areas in southern France or the island of Corsica to wait four weeks before giving blood.
The Lib Dem leader has pledged to return to give blood once he is able. Sir Ed was using the Brixton event to call for a national drive to "beat the winter crisis" in the NHS, through a surge in donations.
Call for Seasonal Vaccination and Donation Points
The Lib Dems have called for seasonal vaccination and blood donation points in village halls, supermarkets and workplaces, to help prevent operations being cancelled. There is an annual shortfall in blood donations in the winter, when cold weather, illnesses and the holidays mean many donation appointments go unfilled.
Record-Breaking A&E Pressures
The call comes after England's A&Es experienced their busiest ever period, with the record-breaking heat being a key factor. There were around 2.5 million attendances last month, with the three busiest months ever all recorded between May and July.
A Lib Dem spokesperson said: "Ed unfortunately could not give blood today due to recent changes to rules regarding blood donations after travelling to certain destinations. Ed went to the Charente region in France on holiday which poses an infection risk due to mosquito prevalence, he will have to wait 28 days after returning home in order to give blood. He'll be back."
