The blood donation services in Somerset have moved to reassure the public that donations are still going ahead, after the service in Midsomer Norton last week was badly hit by staff being self isolating.

The van was in the town but staff told Midsomer Norton Nub News that up to half the nurses were off sick.

But, according to a spokesperson the service, which is managed out of Bath, the system is coping and all blood collection sessions are running as usual.

The NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson added: "We want to reassure donors in Somerset that extra safety measures are in place during the coronavirus outbreak. We ask donors who are fit and healthy to keep donating as normal.

"Our sessions and donor centres are still open and travel to blood donation sessions is essential for the NHS during the lockdown.

"We've put extra safety measures in place and safety is always our number one priority. We're spacing our chairs out as much as each venue permits, doing extra cleaning, and triaging everyone who arrives so only people with no risk factors can enter the donation area. We're asking donors to follow our latest advice and the advice from the Government.

"Donations have dropped, though our stock levels are good because hospitals are cancelling routine operations. Our appointments are mostly full but cancellations have increased. If you need to cancel your appointment, please let us know so that we can offer the appointment to someone else.

"We need people in Somerset to keep donating as they normally would to make sure we can keep supplying the blood hospitals need in the coming weeks and months. Patients and doctors are relying on us to be there."