By Joshua Haigh

The NHS has revealed it is desperate for more male blood donations but the campaign has led some men to speak out about the difficulties they have experienced trying to donate. Only 41% of new blood donors in England last year were men. Certain factors mean only male blood is used in some specialist transfusions, such as with newborn babies.

Prospective male donors are now urging the NHS to make it easier to donate. There are hopes for a 26% rise in first-time male donations in a bid to offset the current gender imbalance and end the possibility of a crisis in the future.

However, some gay and bisexual men have voiced their frustration over not being able to lend their support to the cause. Prior to 2011, men who have sex with men (MSM) were not able to donate blood. This then changed, in 2017, when rules were relaxed in England, Scotland and Wales to allow them to give blood after abstaining from sexual activity for three months.

Jamie Lambert, 29, from London, says many gay and bisexual men people feel let down by the law. Read more via BBC