THE Scottish NHS has given stocks of donated blood to English hospitals amid a shortage of O Negative supplies south of the Border.

The health service in England appealed for donors after the norovirus outbreak and the Christmas holiday left their banks low.

O Negative is vital for emergency workers as it can safely be given to patients with different blood groups, helping buy life-saving time until the right blood type can be checked and sourced.

Dr Moira Carter, head of donor services for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, said supplies were better in Scotland because the vomiting bug was having less of an impact.

Jon Latham, assistant director of marketing for NHS Blood and Transplant in England, said: "We would like to urge all O negative donors to give blood."