The Labour MSP Rhoda has decided to give paid time off to workers to donate blood because employees should have the right to paid time off work to donate blood."

The Red Cross Society is urging to come forward to donate blood because blood supply has been falling generally over the festive period.

The service's Ros Mulcahy said, "We are quite low on O-positive and O-negative and also on the B-positive blood type so we really need people with those blood groups to call and make an appointment."

The transfusion service has appealed to new donors to maintain supplies, which have been affected by recent cold conditions of winter, over the New Year period.

The transfusion service helps in managing blood supplies to hospitals in spite of wintry condition. But still donors in rural areas are badly affected.

MS. Grant from Holyrood health committee feels proud to be a regular blood donor which is particularly important to maintain supplies during the cold weather.

She wants to encourage every Scot who has not already signed up Blood Donor Register because giving blood is certainly a good thing to do.